After the initial cautious distancing, the Sangh Parivar and BJP have now shifted their stance to open embrace of the Malegaon blast accused. A recent conclave of the Sangh Parivar in Panipat, BJP President Rajnath Singh declared that politics and religion were inseparable ; that his party would oppose the attempt to « malign » saints and the armed forces ; and that the very concept of « Hindu terrorism » was « sheer madness ».
It is clear that the BJP itself is playing up the term ’Hindu terror,’ hoping to erect a saffron shield for the terrorists of the Sangh Parivar and to consolidate Hindu sentiment in their favour. ’Hindu’ terror is a false and misleading term, however. We should call a spade a spade and give the Malegaon blasts and similar terrorist acts the name they deserve : ’Sanghi’ terrorism. This brand of terrorism resorts to both communal pogroms and blasts to spread hatred against minorities and whip up communal frenzy. BJP is a direct beneficiary of such Sanghi terrorism. A unique feature of Sanghi terrorism is the fact that its sole purpose is to defame the Muslim community (care was taken to leave tell-tale markers indicating that the bombs were Muslim handiwork). This was intended to whip up atmosphere of fear and hatred against Muslims that would be harvested by the BJP as votes in impending elections.
Some weeks earlier, VHP leader Togadia declared that « No Hindu can be a terrorist. » By implication, of course, Togadia means that all Muslims are (potentially or actually) terrorists. It is telling (and deeply disturbing) that Togadia’s sentiment is echoed by the Maharashtra police probing the October 5 riots in Dhule. While seeking remand of one of the (Muslim) riot accused, and defending the Hindu Rakshak Samiti (HRS) which is widely held to have sparked off the riots, the police declared on record that « It is an established fact that Muslims are the masterminds behind all terrorist activities across India. »
The Sangh’s and BJP’s posture is marked by the most blatant double standards. To question the conduct of the police or investigative agencies in case a Muslim is arrested amounts to sedition in their book ; and custodial torture and fake encounters are invested by the Sangh and BJP with a halo of gallantry as long as the victims are Muslim. The same forces, however, find any sort of investigation of Sangh-affiliated priests or army-men outrageous.
Investigation that relies solely on the dubious evidence of narco-analysis or custodial confessions will certainly be unacceptable to all those who uphold human rights. But let us recall that a Judicial Tribunal found that police and investigative agencies had little else in terms of evidence against the SIMI. The Tribunal therefore recommended lifting of the ban on SIMI ; yet the ban continues.
The Sangh Parivar and BJP now claim that the arrest of sadhus and sadhvis indicates that terror investigations are being ’communalised’ to ’malign’ the Hindu faith. Terror investigations are all too often communally biased : but against the Muslim minority. Brutal torture and fake encounter of Muslim ’suspects’ is a routine feature of such investigation. Mecca Masjid blast suspects in Hyderabad, who have been exonerated, have testified to having been subjected to inhuman torture. Branded as terrorists, they are politically and socially untouchable for life. A couple of weeks ago, ABVP cadre spat on Prof. SAR Geelani of DU at a seminar : an act defended by Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesperson of the BJP. Geelani, in spite of being exonerated by the Supreme Court years ago, has written poignantly about being a ’target for life.’ In contrast, Sadhvi Pragya, even while a terror suspect, has been offered a ticket in the ongoing Assembly election in MP by at least one party !
The BJP and other saffron allies seem to be speaking in two voices : on the one hand, they claim that the charges against the Malegaon blast accused are fabricated and the Sadhvi and co. are innocent ; on the other hand, the actions of the latter are being justified as a ’reaction’ to ’Muslim terrorism.’ The Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna has hailed Sadhvi Pragya and Purohit as the « pride of the Hindu community » for their « courage to act. » Himani Savarkar, President of the Abhinav Bharat, brazenly declared, « Why can’t we have a blast for a blast ? » The Sanghi forces including their political fronts must be told : you can’t have it both ways. Either the Sadhvi and Co. are innocents who have been framed or they are heroes used blasts to avenge the Hindus : you cannot claim both at the same time !
The claim that the Sanghi acts of terrorism are a ’reaction’ to contemporary bomb blasts by Muslims does not hold water. The pages of history show us that the aims of such terrorism (couched in terms of ’militarisation of the Hindus’ and explicitly modelled on the fascist brigades of Hitler and Mussolini) were spelt out by Sangh ideologues and founding fathers long ago.
The Sangh’s acts of terrorism and communal violence, aided by its infiltration into the state machinery and bureaucracy, are the deepest and most dangerous threat to democracy in India. The may well be out of pragmatic considerations. We cannot allow investigation into this threat to remain prisoner to pragmatic considerations of the Congress and UPA Governments at states and Centre, which are now allowing some of the hitherto suppressed evidence to be trickling through but may well call a halt at some later date. It is high time the entire web of Sanghi fascism was laid bare.
See also: Facing up to Sanghi Terror Modules and Fascist Design