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Hindu terrorism

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Saffron terror[1] is a controversial phrase used to describe acts of right-wing terror in India,[2] allegedly inspired by Hindu nationalism. The phrase "saffron terror" is a neologism which entered public debate in India following the 29 September 2008 western India bombings.[3]

Investigations and allegations

Bomb blasts in India which have allegedly been perpetrated by Hindu extremist organisations include 2006 Malegaon blasts, Mecca Masjid bombing (Hyderabad), Samjhauta Express bombings and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah Blast[4][5][6][7][8][9]

It was in the aftermath of the September 29 bomb blast in the predominantly Muslim town of Malegaon in Maharashtra that the terms Saffron Terror and Hindutva Terror came to be used widely in various medias.[10] However, the accused parties confessed to police on narco-analysis that they conspired with Muslim groups for the blasts.[11] However, Purohit allegedly admitted that a splinter group with tenuous ties to him had executed two blasts in India, which prompted investigators to look into the blasts in Ajmer and Hyderabad.[12]

Three men accused of the 2006 Malegaon bombings, including Lt Col Shrikant Purohit of the India army and Pragya Singh Thakur, have been described as representing Saffron terror.[13][14] Purohit was also accused of being involved in the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings until the role of Pakistani terrorist Asif Zamani was unearthed.[15][16] A United States Department of the Treasury report links these bombings to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Qaeda.[17]

The United Progressive Alliance-led government, National Investigation Agency[18][19], Central Bureau of Investigation[20] and Anti Terror Squad (India)[21] have uncovered the role of RSS linked extremists[22][23][24] behind the Mecca Masjid bombing[25]. Earlier, the South Asia Terrorism Portal[26], the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses[27], the National Counterterrorism Center[28] the United States[29], and the United Nations[30]reported that Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami was actually behind the attacks based on initial investigations. Noting this, security analyst Bahukutumbi Raman has questioned "the two different versions that have emerged from Indian and American investigators." accepting that this could be possible because Indian authorities have not updated their counterparts in the US and UN.[17]. On September 22, 2010 a report submitted by the United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to the United States Department of Homeland Security, named HuJi responsible for the blasts. The CBI claimed in their response that the NCTC "do not seem to be updated with developments in the case"[31]

Members of Abhinav Bharat have recently been alleged to have been involved in a plot to kill Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh President Mohan Bhagwat.[32] allegedly with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.[33] Headlines Today released a recorded video tested by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory which indicated the uncovering of an alleged plot to assassinate the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari.[34]. Tehelka also released audio tapes of main conspirators of Abhinav Bharat which indicated involvement of Military intelligence officers with the Abhinav Bharat group as well.[35]

Usage

It was in the aftermath of the September 29 bomb blast in the predominantly Muslim town of Malegaon in Maharashtra that these terms came to be used widely.[36] In late 2008, Indian police arrested members of a Hindu radical cell allegedly involved in an attack Malegaon which killed 7 Muslims.[37] For incidents like these, Saffron terror has been used synonymously with "Anti-Muslim terrorism" or "Anti-Muslim reprisals".[38]

Kanchan Gupta and Swapan Dasgupta, have accused investigators of leaking statements about saffron terror to the media to promote the agenda of the Indian National Congress,[39][40]

The BJP's former president, Rajnath Singh, has denounced claims of Hindu terrorists as "vilification of Hindu saints and army officers in the name of Hindu terrorism".[41]

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had been raising the issue of "Hindutva terrorism" at least since October 2008 when he wrote about it to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,[42] statements that earned criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and a show-cause notice from the Election Commission of India.[43] P. Chidambaram urged Indians to beware of "Saffron terror" on August 25, 2010. This was the first time the word was "officially" used by the Indian National Congress-led government.[1] Since making the remark, a Hindu Swami in the Patan district has filed a defamation lawsuit against Chidambaram, on the grounds that the saffron color is a conventional Hindu symbol and worn regularly by Hindu religious clergy, and that Chidambaram has hurt the sentiments of Hindus by linking the symbol to terrorism.[44] Chidambaram responded by stating "I cannot claim patent on the phrase."[45] On September 6, 2010 a Gujarat court ordered a probe into the use of the term by Chidambaram.[46] Chidambaram was also criticized by members of his own party (the Indian National Congress) for the use of the term, with Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi claiming "terrorism does not have any colour other than black".[47]

In 2010, the internet whistleblower organization Wikileaks released documents attesting to the Indian National Congress using anti-Hindu and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories of "Hindu and Jewish terrorist involvement" in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks (conducted by Pakistani Muslim terrorists led by Ajmal Kasab) as a propaganda tool to gain votes from Indian Muslims. The rhetoric of "Saffron Terror" was prominently used by Congress party members in this campaign.[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Beware of saffron terror too, warns home minister". economictimes.indiatimes.com. Economic Times. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  2. ^ PC defends ‘saffron terror’ remark Deccan Herald - September 1, 2010
  3. ^ Zubair Ahmed (21 November 2008). "'Hindu terrorism' debate grips India". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  4. ^ Dip Your Nib In Scepticism OutlookIndia.com, Editorial, 06-21-2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  5. ^ RSS members behind Hyderabad, Ajmer blasts IBNLive.in.com, 05-14-2010. Retrieved 16-06-2010.
  6. ^ The Rise Of Hindutva Terrorism OutlookIndia.com, 05-11-2010. Retrieved 16-06-2010.
  7. ^ Investigators have neglected 'Hindu terror' for a long time DNAIndia.com, 05-19-2010. Retrieved 16-06-2010.
  8. ^ Malegaon, Ajmer, Hyderabad blasts. Joining the dots IndianExpress.com, 04-10-2010. Retrieved 16-06-2010.
  9. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mecca-Masjid-blast-accused-also-linked-to-Samjhauta-train-attack-NIA/articleshow/7138809.cms
  10. ^ "Malegaon probe: Business houses on ATS radar". Rediff.com. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  11. ^ "Swami Dayanand Pande reveals source of RDX". Mumbai Mirror. 2008-11-22.
  12. ^ "Hyderabad, Ajmer blasts: Why probe took wrong turn". indianexpress.com. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  13. ^ "Army in crisis over saffron terror stain, IBN – November 7, 2008". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  14. ^ Battleground heats up as the Hand plucks at the Lotus, one petal at a time Tehelka
  15. ^ "Treasury Targets Al Qaida and Lashkar-E Tayyiba Networks in Pakistan". US Treasury. 1 July 2009.
  16. ^ TNN (2009-02-14). "US names Pak man for blasts on Samjhauta". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times of India. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  17. ^ a b Bahukutumbi Raman (7 August 2010). "Arrest of Some Hindus as Terrorists- Getting Curiouser & Curiouser". South Asia Analysis Group. Retrieved 9 August 2010. Cite error: The named reference "aq" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  18. ^ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/cops-nab-terror-suspects-441
  19. ^ http://www.siasat.com/english/news/mecca-masjid-blast-accused-also-linked-samjhauta-train-attack-nia
  20. ^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article993217.ece
  21. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ATS-may-grill-Aseemanand-before-tackling-Indresh/articleshow/7169472.cms
  22. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ATS-may-grill-Aseemanand-before-tackling-Indresh/articleshow/7169472.cms
  23. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mosque-blast-RSS-man-grilled/H1-Article1-641887.aspx
  24. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RSS-leader-grilled-for-Hindu-terror/articleshow/7154024.cms
  25. ^ HuJI ban takes no note of 'Hindu terror' role Times of India - August 8, 2010
  26. ^ Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) - South Asia Terrorism Portal
  27. ^ HuJI after the Death of its India Chief Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses - February 13, 2008
  28. ^ ‘Huji, not Hindu group, behind Mecca Masjid blast’ Hindustan Times - September 23, 2010
  29. ^ US, UN declare HuJI as terrorist organisation Times of India - August 8, 2010
  30. ^ US, UN declare HuJI a terror group NDTV - August 7, 2010
  31. ^ Abhishek Sharan (23 September 2010). "Huji, not Hindu group, behind Mecca Masjid blas". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  32. ^ Shibu Thomas, TNN (2010-06-28). "Did Abhinav Bharat plan to kill RSS chief?". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times of India. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  33. ^ Gangan, Surendra (April 9, 2010). "Abhinav Bharat used derogatory words against RSS chief: RR Patil". Mumbai. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  34. ^ Khetan, Ashsih (July 15, 2010). "Saffron brigade's terror plots exposed: India Today". New Delhi. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  35. ^ http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne010111The_unturned.asp
  36. ^ "Malegaon blasts arrests vital in exposing Hindu terrorism". ZeeNews.com. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  37. ^ India police say they hold 9 from Hindu terrorist cell, New York Times – October 12, 2008
  38. ^ "Anti-Muslim reprisal terrorism — An update". srilankaguardian.org. Sri Lanka Guardian. 2010-07-18. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  39. ^ Kanchan Gupta (18 July 2010). "'Free' media tars RSS with fiction". The Pioneer. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  40. ^ Swapan Dasgupta (07 Aug 2010). "Battleground heats up as the Hand plucks at the Lotus, one petal at a time". Tehelka. Retrieved 30 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Jug Suraiya (18 Nov 2008). "SUBVERSE". Times of India. Retrieved 24 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "Unholy terrors" ignored (help)
  42. ^ The Rise Of Hindutva Terrorism, Eurasia Review – 17 May 2010
  43. ^ "Deuce! EC notice to Sonia, Digvijay". economictimes.indiatimes.com. Times of India. 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  44. ^ Press Trust of India (August 30, 2010). "Defamation suit against P Chidambaram for 'saffron terror' remark". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved Aug 30, 2010.
  45. ^ Zeenews Bureau (September 1, 2010). "I've no patent on 'saffron terror': Chidambaram". Zee News. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  46. ^ "Court orders probe into PC's saffron terror remarks". Hindustan Times. September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  47. ^ TNN (2010-08-28). "Congress ticks off Chidambaram over 'saffron terror' remark". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times of India. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  48. ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated 23 December 2008 (10 December 2010). "US Embassy Cables: Mumbai Conspiracy Allegations 'Outrageous' – US Ambassador". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
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