When the term ‘Hindu terrorists' was used by a section of the Indian media recently, the Sangh Parivar protested vehemently against it. Ram Madhav of the RSS was the first to object. He told The Asian Age, “There is no such thing as Hindu terror at all. It is an orchestrated campaign to protect the real terrorists.” When asked about Sadhvi Pragya's arrest, he immediately distanced her from the RSS. The “involvement of individuals,” he said, “had nothing to do with any Hindu organization.” The opposition leader L.K. Advani has also distanced her from the BJP and the RSS. He said he had no knowledge as to who she was till now. Advani told Times of India that it was obvious she parted ways with the Pariwar outfits because her thoughts did not sync with those of the Pariwar. Mr. Advani gave the example of Nathu Ram Godse who killed Gandhiji on Jan. 30, 1948. “Godse was associated with RSS earlier in his life but left the organization way back in 1934 because he did not agree with its ways”, Advani pointed out. Mr. Advani at least admitted that Nathu Ram Godse was associated with the RSS, which was denied earlier. According to Mr. Advani, the RSS does not believe in violence. But it is well known that the RSS was started to train Hindus to fight Muslims. All the RSS branches give training in wielding lathis (bamboo sticks). It has also set up other organizations to give training in arms. Durga Wahini, the women's organization of the RSS, gives training on using firearms to its women members. Mr. Advani, who was a long-time RSS member, must know well that the organization has great admiration for Hitler. Even today in some BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, Nazism is admired and described as the only solution for the country. To claim that Hindutva organizations do not believe in violence is to say fire does not burn at all. The whole of India knows what VHP and Bajrang Dal fanatics did in Gujarat, the kind of violence they indulged in during the Gujarat carnage of 2002. The VHP cadre with support from BJP leaders murdered 2000 innocent Muslims brutally. Was that no violence? Mr. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the BJP vice-president, said after the arrests of Sadhvi and her associates, “To protect real terrorists, the artificial terrorists are being shown.” He clearly implies that Sadhvi and her two associates are not real terrorists and the police have arrested them only to protect real terrorists. Mr. Naqvi thinks real terrorists can only be Muslims? But he has also said, “There can't be either Muslim or Hindu terror.” Isn't this what all secularists and Muslims have been proclaiming all along? Terrorists have no religion, but the Sangh Parivar and media, in general, have always used terms like Islamic terrorism or Muslim terrorists. Even if those innocent boys police arrested were involved in those horrific acts of terror, it does not mean Islam condones terrorism. When their own people were found to be involved in the Malegaon bomb blasts, Hindutva leaders went on defense that Hindus cannot be terrorists and Hindu culture does not believe in violence. But it was quite alright for them until now to blame Islam for terrorism. The arrests of Sadhvi and her associates has put the spotlight on Hindutva organizations, which have earlier been found making bombs. The fact is that Islam, Hinduism or for that matter any religion does not teach terrorism. It is possible that some individuals or groups may misuse religion to justify their acts. In such cases, individuals or groups alone should be held responsible, not the religion or its community. Hinduism is a religion of peace and non-violence just as Islam is a religion of peace and non-violence. – SACW __
