NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Indian society is intensely witnessing violent waves of radicalization in the form of vandalism of
Christian Churches, forceful conversions of Muslims and Christians in the name of Shudhi
(purification) or Ghar Wapsi, ban on beef and cow slaughter and inclusion of Hindu religious
books in curriculum. In these terms, dangerous radicalization of India needs immediate attention.
The gravity of Hindu radicalization is so intense that the US President Obama and New York
Times also cautioned India over the minority issues.
Although New Delhi has been destabilizing all regional states through its well-planned and
deliberated strategy, however, its major focus has always been towards Pakistan, a policy of
In this regard, Pakistani people can not afford to remain forgetful to the agony of the tragedy at
Army Public School Peshawar—carnage incident which resulted in killing of more than 140
children. It was undoubtedly carried out by Ajit Doval’s stooges in connivance with the Tahreek-
e-Taliban Pakistan, as he is fond of exploiting radicalized proxies. Ajit Doval, the ex-spymaster
is now National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the recent past,
Doval attempted to stage a drama of “explosive boat” to defame Pakistan before the arrival of
President Obama to New Delhi.
It is also an undeniable fact that Ajit Doval’s cronies are creating law and order problems in
Balochistan. Doval in his recent lecture clearly threatened that Islamabad will lose
Balochistan—a video is a clear confession by India that it is behind the separatists in the
province of Balochistan and has a huge network of its operatives against the state of Pakistan.
Undoubtedly, Ajit Doval has been targeting Pakistan as a part of “Offensive defensive” doctrine.
In this context, as per agenda of the Hindu ruling party, BJP including other extremist parties like
RSS, New Delhi accelerated unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir and Working
Boundary across Pak-Indian border.
Reportedly, Indian government has refused to issue visa for the city of Panipat to Pakistani
couple Rana Shaukat Ali and his wife Rukhsana to visit graves of their five children who lost
their lives in the Samjhota Express blast in 2007. They have been granted Indian visa only for
Noida, thus not allowing the couple to visit the graves of their children. This shows Indian
present government’s insensitivity to the grief and pain of the bereaved couple. It also raises
serious questions about Indian extremist rulers’ intentions to bring the perpetrators of Samjhota
However, as part of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan approach, leader of the BJP and Prime
Minister of India Modi is giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism. Indian society is rapidly
radicalizing, as unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism has posed serious threats to the very
existence of the minorities there.
While, the constitution declares India to be a secular state, granting equal rights to the religious
minorities, but in practice ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails. Hindu politics and
culture, dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, RSS VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv
Sena including other extremist outfits have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative utterances of
their extremist leaders have resulted into unending violence against the Muslim and Christians
including other minority groups, while creating war-like situation between Pakistan and India.
Radicalization of India by Hindu fanatic parties could be judged from various recent
developments. On May 28, 2014, Rashtriya Hindu Andolan, a Mangalore-based Hindutva outfit
and activists from various right wing groups organized a protest in Mangalore in front of the
office of Deputy Commissioner by demanding the authorities to ban the morning Muslim call to
prayer (Azan) across the country. Besides, forcing the Muslim employee in a Parliament Canteen
by BJP leader to break his fast by stuffing piece of bread in his mouth, statement of Deputy
Chief of Goa, declaring India as a Hindu state, opposition to declaration of Sania Mirza as
Ambassador of Indian state by calling her daughter-in-law of Pakistan might be cited as
Besides other anti-Muslim incidents like the discovery of the unmarked graves of thousands of
the innocent Kashmiris, killed by the Indian security forces in the Indian-held Kashmir, pre-
planned destruction of the Babri Masjid (mosque) in 1992 and genocide of the 2500 Muslims in
2002 in the then BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat, and participants of the Indian high officials in
the events especially be cited as instance.
In this connection, on March 29, 2015, a report under the caption, “Pakistani girl molested, Pune
cop held”, published in Indian newspaper, “The Hindu” said that a Pune policeman has been
booked for molesting a minor Pakistani national at her residence. Anand Gidde, attached to the
Pakistan desk of the Foreigners Registration Office, visited the 13-year-old’s house on March 24
ostensibly for verifying documents and molested her.
Similarly, in the recent years, assaults on Christians, their churches and property have been
executed by the Hindu mobs in various cities of India. In this respect, at least 100 Christians
have been assassinated by Hindu extremists, mostly in the state of Orissa. In the recent past,
frequent incidents of gang rape, specially the rape of elderly Nun shows the ugly face of India.
Hindu fanatics are tightening the noose around the minorities in India.
It is mentionable that apparently, India claims to be the largest democracy, acting upon the
principles of liberalism and secularism, but in practice, all political, economic and social fields of
the country are divided on the caste lines.
In this context, Tim Sullivan of the Associated Press wrote, “There’s a lot of lip service to saying
‘I’m an Indian first, and ‘I’ do not believe in caste,” said D’Souza, a prominent campaigner for
Dalits, as India’s “untouchables” at the very bottom of the caste system are now known.”
Sullivan elaborated, “When it comes to sharing power, to interaction and to sharing social status,
low-caste Indians are very much marginalized.”
Nevertheless, various facts verify the misdeeds of Hindu fundamentalist parties which have
missed no opportunity to radicalize the national politics of India.
It is noteworthy that on November 7, 2011, leader of the VHP, Pravin Togadia, in his furious
speech questioned the past of Muslims and Christians, and further gave a call to Hindus to
capture the Islamic holy places in Arab and Vatican of Europe.
It is worth-mentioning that forced conversions of other religious minorities, especially Muslims
and Christians by the Bajrang Dal, RSS etc. have also continued with the backing of the BJP-led
Particularly, a recent report of Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Testimony by Human
Rights Watch presented before US Senate Committee on atrocious attitude of Hindu majority has
highlighted the plight of minorities in India.
While, some of the extremist Hindu groups are not in favour of a separate and distinct culture for
minorities—a Hindu fundamentalist namely Prof Balraj Madhok suggested that the minorities
must adopt Indian (Hindu) names.
Now, Hindu fundamentalism is increasingly widening its influence everywhere including
bureaucracy, media and educational institutions. The hate campaign unleashed by the extremist
forces is keeping the minority wholly preoccupied with defending their basic human rights and
Hinduization of India is so intense that it has even affected the outlook of Indian Armed Forces
which were generally boasting of their secular posture. In this context, Rear Admiral Vijay
Shankar announced that henceforth new naval cadets would be supplied copies of Ramayana for
Hanuman (Hindu deity) temples are increasing in Cantonments. Hindu religious festivities are
celebrated whereas Muslim and Christian festivals are not celebrated.
State TV and Radio departments do not lag behind in Hinduization of the society as morning
sessions are usually started with “Vande Mataram.”
It is the right hour that the West and especially the US must abandon its double standard by
taking appropriate steps against maltreatment with the minorities in India. Otherwise, dangerous
radicalization of India by Hindu extremists may cause World War 111 or clash of civilizations in
wake of global war against terrorism.
