ANU sociologist Shakira Hussein makes these perceptive observations in Crikey today:
India has been wrestling with the issue of "home-grown terrorists" over the past few weeks ... The Indian authorities have arrested a number of Hindu militants, including a serving army officer, in relation to a bombing in Malageon that was reportedly aimed at transforming India into a Hindu state by 2025, and to "make India like it was when it was ruled by the Aryans".
The apparent revelation of an organized terrorist network with links to well-known Hindu nationalist organizations, including the opposition BJP, has attracted considerable attention in the subcontinent.
The network has also been connected to attacks in Hyderabad and Ajmer. But the biggest sensation came when anti-terrorism officials claimed during a court hearing that the network may have been responsible for the 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express train between Delhi and Lahore. Most of the 68 victims of the Samjhauta attack were Pakistani nationals returning home after visiting India, and Pakistan-based jihadi organizations were widely held to be responsible. So allegations that the perpetrators may have been Hindu
extremists rather than Muslims attracted widespread attention in both India and Pakistan. The Indian authorities later retreated from the claims regarding the Samjhauta bombing, but the Pakistani government and media are still demanding further information.
The ruling Congress party is in a weak position to face forthcoming elections, and the BJP is claiming that the current crackdown on Hindu organizations is aimed at courting the Muslim vote. The BJP, for its part, is rallying in support of the so-called "saffron bombers".
This week's Mumbai attacks have overtaken the "saffron bomber's" place in the headlines. But the story does not seem likely to go away.
5 comments:
Hahahahahahahhaha
I'm getting bored and jaded. Could we have another big slaughter of mud people or maybe a nuclear war between India and Pakistan?
Irfan I know you don't get out of bed much but next time you hear the garbage truck could you go and climb in the back. Someone described your face as a slimey black rat sitting on top of a giant brown turd. I think of you more as a piece of garbage that should be compacted by a garbage truck. Do the world a favour Irfan and put your face into a garbo truck.
Anon, these people were allowed in to pay taxes so that your dole cheque won't bounce.
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