Not many people would know that the governing party of India, the BJP led by Narendra Modi, is the political arm of the right-wing Hindu nationalist, terrorist organization, of the Rashtriya Swayamsivak Sang (RSS). It considers controversial figures like Hitler and Mussolini as its role models. The mandate of the RSS is to establish an exclusive Hindu State in India, ala Israeli-style Zionist state in occupied Palestine.
Under its rule attacks on religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, have grown. For the leaders of the RSS, Hindus are Aryans who belong to the national race of India while Muslims and Christians should not live in India.
The populist oratory of the BJP during these elections is no different from those of 2002 in Uttar Pradesh. The mantra then was the Ram Temple to be built in Ayodhya. Communal tensions were at fever pitch. Gujrat was the only state with a BJP government, with Modi as the Chief Minister.
The BJP is in search of a second term as the governing party of a country dubbed the largest “democracy” in the world. Modi’s victory in these elections are not a foregone conclusion. His bilateral ties with Israel has taught him one of many lessons: use “national security” as a campaign tool.
The timing of the “terror” attack in Pulwama, in Kashmir, killing 40 plus soldiers, is not a mere coincidence. This so-called “terror” attack plays into the hands of Modi’s “national security” chant. This gives Modi the ideal pretext to make anti- Pakistan speeches the centre of his campaign manifesto.
It is well documented that Hindutva nationalism and its political arm, the BJP, have been the prime suspects for stirring communal violence and inter-religious conflict against minorities. Political violence carried out by the state as well as non-state agents, has long been practised in India. That Muslims are the main culprits of these heinous acts of viciousness gained power in the 1990’s since Hindu Nationalism became state dogma.
Hard questions such as who benefits from the criminality, who finances it and in whose interest is it to subvert and undermine the region?
By :
Ibrahim Vawda
Media Review Network
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