By Sanjay Kumar
The confessions of a religious teacher are a reminder of the dangers of Hindu nationalism, reports Sanjay Kumar. So how big is the threat of terrorism?
‘I know I could be sentenced to death, but I still want to make the confession,’ Naba Kumar Sarkar told the metropolitan magistrate in a lower Delhi court last December. His move was, he said, an act of atonement after he learned of how someone else had been wrongly arrested.
Such a decision would usually be noteworthy, but not headline making. What was unusual about this confession was who it was coming from. Sarkar, also known as Swami Aseemanand, was no ordinary criminal standing before the courts. Being a Swami—a revered religious teacher in the Hindu religion—Aseemanand is supposed to symbolize virtue. But instead, he was in court over claims that he has been closely involved with Hindu nationalist terrorist attacks that took place in western and southern India between 2006 and 2008.
Aseemanand is believed to belong to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organization that propagates Hindu nationalism, and which is intolerant of other religions, particularly Islam and Christianity. His confession, recorded in front of a magistrate, included talk of his involvement with terror attacks conducted with the help of friends. It also shed light on a previously murky brand of terrorism.
India’s Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram describes the phenomenon as ‘saffron terror’, although the ruling Congress Party prefers ‘Sangh terror,’ in recognition of the importance of RSS. Most of the media, though, prefer a broader tag: ‘Hindutva terror’.
Regardless of the name it is given, it has become increasingly clear that the popular perception of Islamic groups as being behind virtually all of the terrorist incidents in India in recent years is hugely misplaced.
Aseemanand’s confession suggested that Hindutva brigades have been behind a spate of high-profile incidents—the terror attacks in Malegaon in Maharashtra (2006, 2008) the Samjhauta Express bombings (2007), a bomb blast at the Sufi shrine in Ajmer Sharif (2007), the Mecca Masjid bombing, and an attack in Modasa in Gujarat (2008).
Yet at the time of these crimes, Muslim organizations and individuals were arrested in significant numbers, revealing a justice system skewed against Muslims. Some of those arrested over the attacks are still behind bars.
‘There’s obviously an inbuilt bias against Muslims in certain states and among a section of police personnel,’ says Prof. Mahesh Rangarajan, a noted political analyst. ‘Political leaderships should look into it and justice should be given. (There should be) compensation for the people wrongfully held, actions against the erring officials should be taken. This violation of rights isn’t good for the country as a whole.’
Photo Credit: Will Ockenden
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INDIAN
Hindu nationalism poses bigger threat to India more than anything else. I dread if they were to succeed they will turn India into another Pakistan full of intolerance.
anurag
India is a country of sanatana dharma from more than last 5000 years,many sects,religions flourished under the shadow of this greatest religion.and they were able to flourished only because of this great religion.
indian muslims have to think that they are not like blind arabs or ordinary muslims,but they all were once relateted to sanatana dharma,and their forefathers converted because of the fear of death,or taxes (zajia).
My only request is to let India be like it was before the arrival of islam,don’t try to injure the soul of india,otherwise no one like patanjali,Buddha ,Mahavir,Sankaracharya or Nanak will born,and the whole world will burn in the fire of hatred,like all the muslim nations are burning today.
indian.bully
india’s biggest threat is china and islam. china in particular.
Sanket Upadhyay
>>>Indianbully This is your personal opinion and your alone. No one I know hates Islam. I always had muslims as friend be it school, university and now work and can say that they are just as patriotic and hard working as Indian of any other religion. For every 1 muslim who is extremist there are millions who are ready to die for India. So yeah they are our equals and I respect them like I respect all my countrymen i.e. without any bias or discrimination.
deepak
People like the author are the main hurdles in combating Islamic Fundamentalism & Terrorism. I appreciate that they are supporters of human rights & liberalism but they should understand the impact and effects of their articles on the society. Lets take the views by Congress leaders like Mr. Digvijay Singh & Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Firstly if you think that Congress is serious about Hindu Terrorism and such statements have nothing to do with vote bank politics then please dig a deep into the history of Shah Bano Case, Taslima Nasreen Case, death sentence of parliament attackers, numerous fatwas by Deoband and etc and Congress’s/govt. reaction to them and this will help you to realise that Congress has hardly been serious about issues of fundamentalism & terrorism (be it from any religion)and just uses them for vote bank politics.Now they are criticising the Hindu Terrorism for they know that they come nowhere close to BJP as far as Hindus rights are concerned and hence inaction/silence (as shown on Islamic fundamentalism/terrorism)on hindu terrorism would not help them to garner hindu votes. But instead they have blown the issue for they know that Hindus still have a large population with liberal beliefs which can be diverted to Congress. Your article just shows the Congress on the right side (though you may not be a Congress supporter) while showing the BJP and RSS on the wrong side. If you can do a bit more favour just research a bit deeper about minority rights in Islamic countries, spread of Islam, Quran , Shariah (also hinduism principles and beliefs) and then your ARE ON YOUR OWN TO DECIDE WHETHER ISLAMIC OR HINDU FUNDAMENTALISM is a major threat to india or even to the world.