Click to play videoNew Delhi: Several political parties, activists, minority organisations and civil society groups promoting communal harmony have demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal, but the outfit dismisses this as mere political opportunism because of the impending election season in the country.
The evidence against the Bajrang Dal's role in terrorising minorities has been mounting over the last two years. Union Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar is the latest politician to suggest that if SIMI has been banned, then so should the Bajrang Dal.
“It is not a question of Hindus or Muslims. It’s a question of those who are doing illegal things. Why can’t Sanathan Prabhat and Bajrang Dal be termed as terrorist organisations?” Pawar recently asked.
But Bajrang Dal leaders say it is not involved in terror activities.
National Convenor of the Bajrang Dal Pradeep Sharma said, “There are many politicians who have openly supported SIMI. And they have constantly been in the terror radar. They have also died in police encounters. We have just been pulled into a controversy. In fact, Bajrang Dal has nothing to do with Orissa and Karnataka.”
But Mahender Kumar, the outfit's leader in Karnataka, accepted the group's role in the anti-Christian violence. “We will fight against conversion. We are ready to go to jail for Hindu society,” he said.
Kumar was arrested by the police and is now out on bail. However, Bajrang Dal's top leadership remains in denial.
Sharma said, “We are not against the minorities, we are against terrorism. We are also not against Christians but against religious conversions done forcibly and fraudulently.”
The Sangh Parivar says that the killing of RSS activist Lakshmananda Saraswati, conversions by Christian evangelists, and denigration of Hinduism by church groups like New Life were the root cause of anti-Christian violence.
Advani even called for a national debate on conversion. But with gruesome accounts of the gangrape of a nun in Orissa, mass destruction of churches and homes and killings of Christians being splashed in the media, even Advani is now on the defensive.
“I am ashamed of what has happened in Orissa,” Advani said recently.
With General Elections round the corner, Right wing parties and small groups affiliated to the Sangh Parivar are quick to take this opportunity to showcase the aggressive face of Hindutva.
With Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists are out on roads, reportedly terrorising shop-keepers and blocking traffic, the violent face of Hindutva politics is out in the open. But the question that many ask is why this sudden expression of anger?
Director of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Vinay Sahasrabudhdhe, said, “There is a feeling emerging among Hindu groups that their feelings being hurt does not matter. Anybody can ridicule Hindu Gods, Hindu icons or anything that is labeled as Hindu. They think if the feelings of Muslims and Christians are so sacred, why are Hindu feelings not looked at, this anger now finds manifestation in various incidents.”
Meanwhile, National Secretary of the VHP, Vyankatesh Aabdev said, “Looking at the Afzal Guru case it seems that this Government is not serious about tackling terror. And this forces the common man to fight terrorism.”
Analysts say this turmoil over Hindutva politics will continue for a while.
Editor of Loksatta Kumar Ketkar said, “Religion is one manifestation of that identitarian politics which you can quickly cash in on in terms of electoral benefit or social rise in power. A kind of a terror can give you power. Today many small leaders in small localities can emerge powerful by simply establishing their terror network.”
With elections around the corner, many politicians are likely to exploit communal anger. The months to come could see more Orissas, more Karnatakas and more saffron terror.
So India must battle mob terror and extremism of militant Hindu groups with as much resolve as it is displaying in battling Indian Mujahideen and Pakistan-backed terror groups.
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