INDIA: SHINING TO SAFFRON

by Eric R. Brian

In 2004 the BJP touted the 'shining India' image to an incredulous population steeped in poverty and groaning under the BJP's misrule. So far removed was the BJP government from the reality of the hate that its Hindu politics inspired that it was actually surprised when it was rejected and defeated.

This time the BJP has made no bones about being the political front for the saffron clad sena brigades of fanatical crazed war painted Hindus. All issues including Ayodhya, the Modi pogrom of Muslims in Gujerat, the train burning of Muslims, the rape and murder of Christians and the more recent violence and acid throwing on pub crawling females, dating couples and Valentines Day lovers. Intolerance is alive and well in 'secular' India.

The saffron robes are a cloak for atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Dalits, Adivasis and anyone else who does not meet with the approval of these radicals. The hate they spout finds space in the Indian national media especially against Pakistan. The RSS was associated with Godse, Gandhis assassin. Its affiliates are the RSS and the VHP-Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The VHP is the religious arm of the RSS. These and other organizations sponsor the subjugation of Muslims and Christians. They commit atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis whom they consider their natural prey.

Human Rights and the struggle for survival by the poor are overtaken by the 'external enemies' with Muslims on top of the list. Muslims are being demonized under the cover of 'terrorism'---Islam breeds terror and all Muslims are terrorists. Islamic terrorism is acceptable but Hindu terrorism does not exist as far as they are concerned. Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pande are in the forefront with others like Thakeray and Modi and many in the military, politics, bureaucracy-in fact in every walk of life following them.

Their anti Muslim agenda is no secret. This drives their pro-Hindu slogans and yatras and Dharnas. They are against the constitution and want Lord Manu's 'manu smriti' to replace it. India has a serious home grown terror dilemma. The Indian Mujahideen are a response to the Hindu atrocities in Kashmir and Assam. Politics is being subverted by religion to exploit it to the hilt---this breeds terror. The government does not have the capacity or will to confront the menace at home so it talks of Taleban and the militants coming from outside. In Ayodhya the Muslims are poor, uneducated and terrified because the BJP is whipping up the Ram Mandir issue again.

A radical Hindu group-Abhinav Bharat-has carried out a systematic hate campaign against Muslims. Serving and retired military officers and men are part of this group that espouses Bharat Suwariya, Surajya Suraksha ( self rule, good rule and security) and propagates Hindu Rashtra. This group recruits actively and seeks outside assistance. Sri Ram Sene organization is another Hindu extremist group that uses violence in pursuit of its aims. Members of parliament like MP BL Sharma are associated with these and other radical groups.. The Hindu community supports these groups creating a threat for the South Asian region beyond India's borders. The saffron corridor in India soaked in blood is the real danger to not only India but the region.