Unsettled by reports alleging the involvement of some Hindu outfits in terror attacks, the BJP has modified its response on the issue.
Yahswant objects to linking terror & religion
NEW DELHI: Unsettled by reports alleging the involvement of some Hindu outfits in terror attacks, the BJP has modified its response on the issue.
While the party initially denied any involvement and said that this was a conspiracy to defame “nationalist” organisations, on Friday, BJP vice-president Yashwant Sinha took a more liberal approach and said terrorism is terrorism and it is wrong to link terror with any religion.
Sinha said it was wrong to use the term “Hindu terrorists” for the alleged extremists arrested on charges of being involved in the Malegaon blasts. “Some sections are trying to malign the majority community. BJP has objections with the term Hindu terrorists, which is wrong. Nobody is saying that the law must not take its course. No one can say that. A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his caste or religion,” Sinha said at a press meet here on Friday.
In response to a question demanding a ban on Hindu organisations and Bajrang Dal, Sinha said, “The Indian government has to take a decision in the matter. If we support the decision, we will stand by it.”
Sinha, however, did not try to defend the outfits charged with terrorist acts. “Investigations should take place, but the whole majority community is being assailed. We object to ultra secularists. We object to what Brinda Karat (CPI-M) said in the House yesterday - that it was Hindu terrorism,” he added.
“Vaiko has been arrested because he made a speech supporting the LTTE. Why haven’t those speaking in favour of Simi been arrested? This is the level vote-bank politics has reached, by condemning the majority, one seeks to gain the minority vote,” he added.
Earlier, BJP leader from Maharashtra Gopinath Munde said so far no Hindu group has been involved in any blasts. BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar alleged that politics was behind the allegations and demanded a CBI inquiry into the episode. “This is an old case. It’s only due to the approaching elections that such allegations are being levelled. Let the accused be arrested, and let there be a CBI inquiry into the whole episode,” said Katiyar.
The RSS however, saw it as a “conspiracy to malign Hindu organisations”. “The charges against Hindu organisations are false and malicious. Violence and blasts must be condemned. But we also condemn the project to malign various Hindu organisations,” said former RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav.
On the alleged involvement of a former ABVP national executive member in the Malegaon blasts, he said, “None of our functionaries will ever be involved in such activities. We want investigating agencies to investigate and punish the culprit.”
s_rajesh@dnaindia.net
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