Political parties have sharply criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remark that people in India should be called Hindus like inhabitants in England are known as English and those in Germany, Germans.

Congress leader Manish Tewari advised Bhagwat to read the Constitution which uses words, India or Bharat for the country and not Hindustan.

He said it is written that India is a union of States.

CPM Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury echoed Tewari's view saying, people may call the country Hindustan but, as per the Constitution, it is Bharat.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament today, BSP chief Mayawati pulled up Bhagwat for his comment.

She said if he had even basic knowledge of the Indian Constitution, he would not have made such a comment.

NCP leader Tariq Anwar said people of India are Indians and no person can force their religion on those following a different faith.