India & saffron terrorism
REPORTS coming in from a Congress meeting in Jaipur, India, quoted Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as saying: “Reports have come during investigations that the BJP and RSS conduct terror training camps in India to spread terrorism … Bombs were planted in the Samjhauta Express and Makkah Masjid while an explosion took place in Malegaon. We will have to think about it seriously and will have to remain alert. This is saffron terrorism that I have talked about.”
This is a rare admission coming from the Indian National Congress that seems to be under considerable pressure from the Hindu right in view of the next elections.
Although there has been an immediate denial coming from the Bharatiya Janata Party quarters, this admission explains some of the problems also that India and Pakistan have in their dealing with terrorism that is, as we can see, not a Pakistani problem alone.
Still, why did then the Indian prime minister at the same meeting allege that Pakistan was exporting terrorism? Does this imply that Hindu nationalist terrorism is the answer to the Muslim one that comes exclusively from Pakistan?
Once India is on the way to recognising some of the realties in its own country, why not proceed and acknowledge some more home truths?
While there is no denial that there is a Pakistani connection in some of the terrorist attacks in India such as the Mumbai incident, there should also be no doubt about the fact that Indian Muslims themselves have many reasons to fight back in the Indian state that is treating them unfairly for more than 60 years.
Indian Muslims are fighting not only in Kashmir which will be, of course, a separate source of resentment and militancy, but also in the rest of India just keeping in view the Babri Masjid attack and murder of Muslims and the Gujarat massacre in which thousands of Muslims were killed.
In an increasingly violent world where the West is waging war for colonisation of natural resources and political influence everywhere, one should not be surprised to find out that violence creates new violence.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Every now and then we need to highlight some facts about india just to see the fanatic reaction from the so called tolerant people even when we are only quoting their own sources. Funy isn’t it. They are very good at criticising others but unable to look themselves in the mirror.
we are not the ‘so called tolerant people’ but we actually are.. the diverse background, regions, religions, traditions itself tells everyone the tolerant nature of our country… as for the comments by shinde he is a small fish trying to cache the vote bank.. and if there’s any truth in his comments then i am sure law and order will take its course and investigate the allegations.. we know what we are doing and doesn’t need people lying in cesspool to tell us to come clean..
Also, lets not forget Rahul Gandhi, who is considered as India’s “Obama” was recorded telling US officials that he fears hindu terrorism as the biggest threat to India.
2 wrongs dont make a right; thats one. Two, comparing so called Saffron Terror to Pakistan International Migraine status is like comparing a lone seed which wont bear much fruit to a fully ripe plant with thorns! This delusional thinking on part of Pakistan must end… or else ‘the end is nigh’
If anyone in pakistan takes the words of congress leaders please hold on.This is indian politics at its best.directed to woo muslim votes and nothing else.congress is doing this ever since indipependence and believe my words,Janata party rule in 1978-80 and a 5 year rule under vajpayee were golden time for aam aadmi in India really.Those were the only time when congress was not in power..
Of hundreds of terrorist attacks in India 4 have been attributed to the so-called saffron terrorism. It is a fringe group and most of its perpetrators are behind the bars. There is no appetite for Hindu terror in Indian society. Pakistan’s quest for a Hindu mirror image of outfits like LeT, LeJ, TTP etc is futile. People equating RSS, BJP, or Shiv Sena in that bracket are either unaware or simply use a convenient subterfuge. All these groups are essentially political in nature and are close to center than JUI in Pakistan.
Haiiiiiii..shinde yeh tune kya bol diya…..
If you go through political situation in India people are fed up with Khangress(Muslim appeasement party) and BJP(as you call Right WIng Party). Both of them are neck dip in corruption. In India Hindus are pretty happy to see Muslim grow and develop with them in the field of Education and living styles, which is impossible in Pakistan. Hindus are more tolerate than Muslims which is violent in nature. If you judge muslims in India and Pakistan, Pakistan muslim is more un-educated and backward in comparison to Indian Muslim (Read socio-economic survey of UN).
It does not matter that there is socalled ‘Saffron terrorism’ in India. Its terrorism, if there is really one, is restricted to India itself whereas the Pakistani brand of terrorism is global in nature. I never heard of Indians recruiting, arming, training and sending their goons to other countries to spread terrorism whereas everyone and his uncle (especially Uncle Sam) knows that whenever there is a terrorist attack anywhere in the world everyone looks for its connection to Pakistan. That is the reason Pakistan allows our Drones to attack its own citizens. Do you really think India would standby and let our Drones cross its borders?
good one.. i know for sure that India will never be compromising its sovereignty nor it would be sitting ducks for any aggressions on its borders.
After jinnah, Shinde did more for Pakisthan!
I wonder if Pakistanis are ready to believe every statement that comes out of India’s Home Ministry. What Mr Shinde has stated is more of political oppurtunism rather than anything new. The information about accused and their links to rightwing Hindu nationalist organization in three blasts is there in the public domain since 2008. There is no terror activity from this group since 2008 so what is new ? India broke the back of saffron terrorism.
As far as your comment on conditions of Indian Muslims are concerned, you better know that how Hindus and other non-Muslims have been wiped out and now it is Shias, Ahmadyas and Hazaras in line. How long will you keep on harping on Gujrat riots or Babri masjid that heppened 20 years back while forgetting thousands killed within Pakistan in last year and continue to be killed ?
India has controlled the groups while both the Govt and Govt agencies within Pakistan continue to harbour and patronize terror groups within Pakistan,
The reason why they don’t find any compulsion in admitting these and keep blaming Pakistan and Pakistani under the sun, 1) weak and corrupt government in Pakistan 2) they know the west is not interested right now because they (USA especially) is tapping deep into cheap highly ecducated Indian populace. After this resource is dry, then USA is remember all the human rights violation etc.
Dear Azhar, dont fool yourself. Shinde is not a rickshaw puller in Mumbai, he is the Home Minister of India. If saffron terrorism is indeed true, he would not be just lecturing about it, he would have put them behind bars. So think about it.
Sorry Mr Khan. Even the Muslims in India concede that Shinde “Goofed Up” big time. They laugh off the suggestion that BJP and RSS run terror camps. While there are fanatics in organizations that seem to “Speak” for the “Hindu Cause” and some of them are associated with the RSS, the “Terror Camps” argument is a joke.
OK so when your minister admits terrorism then its goof up. But when you blame Pakistan then its for real. Good logic you have.
First call it Bhagwaa…not Saffron.
No need of Camp….spread all over….ask any blogger to do this work …he will come forward…
Muslims are not even safe in pakistan forget about India where Muslims grew their population from 8% to 13%. Think it how safe Hindus are where they even can’t get land for ‘burial’. Hindus are more treated like animal in Pakistan than muslims in India. After independence Hindus in Pakistan has diminished from 27% to 1%. Who to answer? Hindus should retaliate more sharply than Muslims in India who got fame & billion dollars from majority Hindus in Muslim dominated Bollywood. This article is another lame duck from Pakistan. May trust prevails first in Pakistan where Muslims (Shia-Sunni & Baluchistani) fight with each others. Hindus don’t have a word called ‘Jihad’ though.
Every religion has three sets of followers: The Fundamentalists, who claim that only they are the children of God.
Next are the Moderates, who claim that, perhaps, others might also be the children of God. Finally, there are the Futurists, who claim that ALL human beings are God’s children.
Along with the Moderates, they from a passive majority.
It is when the Politicians align with the Fundamentalists that violence erupts.
our Indian friends admire Dawn for its “unbiased” & “factual” reporting when the news is about Pakistani establishment & Islamic extremists…
lets see how forthcoming & generous they will be when the news is about India & is not very “shinning”
Well said, bravo: It is only a joke when not directed to you. Freedom of speech is limited to only when you not mention me.
Nope…freedom of expression is limited only to non-muslims….becuz when we will start discussing your stuff you will issue fatwa for that….plz dont get confused!!
Guys – i will not question your wisdom here but tell me one simple truth.. would a home minister of huge country like india will chatter about any potential threats in public or would work on it in a classified way to address it.. ? tell me if you would have been in his place, what would be your course of action.. i am sure you would go with working on it internally through all intelligence network rather blabbering on it in open.. that explains his motives which are basically to lure the muslim votes or vote bank group as stated in our country… if there’s an aorta of truth in what he has said, then perhaps we would have seen all the saffron brigade behind bars by now…. and if he doesn’t have proofs then he wouldn’t have been openly bringing their names in front..
just need to think with some common sense and nothing else.
Haha.. you took the words right out of my mouth….
Irfan Baloch & Ali Ashraf Khan
While even some Indian Muslims laughed off the language used by Shinde regarding ‘Hindu terrorism’, please note that the statement came from the Home Minister of the country – the ministry responsible for any kind of terrorism or law-and-order situation in the country. Do you also know that those accused have actually been arrested? So (Irfan Bhai) pray tell me will the Pakistani Home Minister (or equivalent) make any such admissions? Isn’t Hafiz Saeed still on the loose? And many others of his ilk?
And to add to the list of people identified by Jagdish in his posting here – please add Salman Khurshid, our foreign minister and Dr. Altamas Kabir, Chief Justice of India – two key and powerful positions in the country. Azim Premji is the founder and CEO of one of the 2 largest IT companies in India (Wipro). Incidentally, though Premji owns more than 80% of the shares of that company, he has announced that the next CEO of the company will be KT Kurien, a Christian – and that his own son Rashid would never become the CEO of the company.
We do have a whole ton of things that are wrong amongst the Hindus that require our attention and demand corrective measures. Religious terrorism is not one of them – though one can most definitely find outliers in a nation with a population of over 1 billion. If you want to hang your hat on those outliers, I would say that it is representative of the ostrich-like attitude that leads to the kind of strife seen in Pakistan today amongst the various communities – Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiya, Borahs, Balochs, etc.
Hi Irfan, You are right, Many Indian must be reading Dawn for being unbiased. Like every nation in the world, India has a set of internal issues. Dawn and even many Indian newspapers fail to report the other side of the story. Extreamists in India have very small following. The likes of Thakre and others have localized influence and they definetly do not affect the foreign policy. Pakistan as a nation should also grow in a similar direction. Military and Religious groups should be completely out of decision making in Government and political matters.
Just for the imformation of any intelligent person.
If there is anyy terrorist training camp in India, Then there would be terrorist. Only this author seems to be aware of Indian terrorists existing.
Please let the world know.
Ask your home minister.
Couple of differences
1. We admit there is another strand of terrorism
2. We JAIL some of the actors
3. We never palm off saying these are ‘non-state’ actors
4. We are not into export business & we do not have a state policy to support these people
5. Our govt & intelligence are not involved nor do they treat them as an extended arm
6. Our conduct is verifiable & appreciated by the international community.
All your wishful thinking. Your media makes you believe, it is all green.
We….is wrong…
in Kinder garden
Absolutely nonsense by this shinde. I am not a hindu but i know BJP is the one who has led and can lead India ahead. Not the blatant congress.
Dear Ali Ashraf,
What came out from Congress in Jaipur was for consumption of Indian Muslims only. Please dont read too much into that. Being from the subcontinent you know these politicians will say anyting for their political benefits. Had this been actually true, instead of making speeches, they would have proved this in a court of law, having all probing and government machinary at their disposal.
You harp upon Babri Masjid all the time, but do you know its history? The Muslim rulers of India in order to subjugate their Hindu population destroyed their prominent places of worship in Northern India and built mosques by demolishing important temples.. in ayodha where Ram was born, Somnath temple in Gujrat, Krishna temple in Mathura, Kashi Vishwanath in Beneras and many others.. Can you honestly tell me, if this was to happen in Mecca to religious monuments, what could be the popular reaction in pakistan? You cite Gujrat, tell me if a gang of Hindus burnt a train full of Pakistani pilgrims in Pakistan, what could have happened next? And finally, dont worry about the Indian Muslim, the constitution of India does not have Hinduism as the state religion, all religions are equal and have freedom to pursue their religion and economic prosperity.. ask a Shia, Ahmediya, Sufi, Barelvi, Deobandi, Sunni, etc…all can promote their religion..is the name of Dr.Zakir Naik, he openly preaches Islam and conversions… Can minorities especially Hindus do it in Pakistan? Another truth in India, due to the 16% Muslim population and their enbloc voting all political parties especially Congress indulges in minority appeasement. The Saffron terrorism phrase is a joke.. have they demolished world trade center? have they done 9/11 or any such thing anywhere outside of India? People like Owasi in India threaten to anhilate all Hindus if the police is kept away for 15 minutes, he continues to be safe in India with not even a threat from so called saffron terrorism.. India offers a chance to all communities to leave peacefully and prosper.. those who have embraced it have risen to the top and are respected by all of India e.g. Dilip Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Salman Khan, Amir Khan, SRK, Maulana Abdul Azad, Dr. Kalam, Zakir Hussain, Mohammed Azharuddin…the list is endless
Wow, you are justifying all your bad deeds. I am glad you accept them at least.
So what have you expected?? Why should miyas have all the fun? hehe……
Add to that, in India, the current foreign minister, the chief justice and the head of RAW are all muslims . Not just unthinkable, but simply inconceivable in Pakistan. That is the difference between the two…..!!!
We have heard this kind of despicable justifications for massacre of thousands of muslims from other indian Hindus before.
The author should concentrate on the Muslims killing Muslims in his own country. All Pakistanis were descendants of Hindus, you don’t have arab blood, you were just spineless to fight the arab invaders so you joined them by converting to Islam.
Typical last refuge of the Hindu.
good one.
Ali Ashraf Khan, better you look at your own fragile country and scattered community. Don’t worry about Indian muslim, they are better off with india’s versatile tradition of living together of last 5000 years….u understand 5000 years !! have you ever got to see such a long tradition of togetherness in your so called islamic country???????????????????????
Why don’t you write about the incidents that took place in Pakistan after Babri Masjid demolition?
When was the last time a Saffron brigade marched into Islamabad and killed Pakistanis? When was the last time saffron-e-taiba attacked any place in Pakistan? The writer is clueless. Besides, most Indians, including muslims are poor, and will be glad to live in India where there are no Taliban types in each neighbourhood.
I see a great politics played by Congress Man Sushil Kumar shinde the Minister, who now very well know that there Congress goverment is going to go… and BJP Rule after atal bihari vajpayee is going to come again…. Hence he caused this disturbance in the minds of poeple of two contries. All politics.
What do you mean the writer is clueless? He’s quoting your Home Minister.