Bharatiya Janata Party's national general secretary Ram Madhav courted controversy on Friday when he told Al Jazeera journalist Mehdi Hasan, "Worry about... your ISIS." Madhav made the gaffe during an interview where he was defending the Narendra Modi government against allegations of "flirting with fascism".

During the course of the interview, Madhav referred to Hasan and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria with the words "your ISIS". This happened when he was trying to make a point about his apprehensions about the terror group acquiring nuclear weapons. Hasan questioned Madhav's remark, saying, "My ISIS?" thrice, even as the BJP leader tried to make amends. Madhav did not apologise, but said, "What I was trying to say is ISIS..."

This wasn't the only controversial remark made by Madhav during the interview. He also said he subscribes to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's belief that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will one day reunite to form “Akhand Bharat”, or an undivided India. Madhav, who is in charge of the BJP's Jammu & Kashmir affairs, also said, "The only outstanding issue with regard to the Kashmir problem is the Kashmir under Pakistan occupation."

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had also said in June this year that Pakistan and Bangladesh were Hindu nations. "Those who live in the Indian subcontinent belong to the Hindu nation. They may have different citizenships, but their nationality is Hindu," he had said.