Daily Times

While the world has gradually started taking cognizance of the reaction of university students against the draconian anti-Muslim laws of CAA and NRC promulgated by Modi and the crackdown on the protestors, Hindu extremists are adulating extremism.

The Hindu Mahasabha has announced that the organization would felicitate the accused in Jamia firing case. The outfit further called the shooter “a true nationalist like Nathuram Godse”. It may be recalled that Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in cold blood. Readers may recollect that tension had flared near Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University when a man brandished a gun and opened fire at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a student. He was later seen as waving the firearm above his head and shouting ‘Yeh lo azadi’ despite the presence of police personnel.

Instead of condemning the act, the gun slinger is being lionized. Hindu Mahasabha spokesperson Ashok Pandey announced that the organization is “proud of the boy, who attempted to silence the anti-national activities on Jamia campus by giving the students there ‘instant azadi’.” Shockingly, Pandey justified brandishing a gun to “punish anti-national activities” and said that even the law makes a distinction between cold-blooded murder and someone eliminated in the best interest of the country.

Pandey added that all the “anti-nationals like Sharjeel Imam and the ones on the Aligarh Muslim University campus, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Shaheen Bagh deserve to be shot”. He further announced that the Hindu Mahasabha will bear legal aid to the accused. Pandey allegedly said that the organization is proud that the boy has given a befitting reply to the students involved in anti-national activities at the Jamia Campus.

The situation is getting grim for India because even US, European Union and other Parliaments have discussed the rapidly deteriorating situation because of the marginalization of Muslims in India and the violent crackdown on protesting students, majority of which are non-Muslims

Hindu Mahasabha BJP, VHP, Hindu Yuva Vahene and Bajrang Dal all are outfits of the militant Hindutva organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Their activities in general are violent in nature and bent upon intolerance and fanaticism. While India’s economy is dwindling, unemployment is at an all-time high, the extremists continue to wreak havoc on protestors. It is alarming that the police was standing silent when the protagonist was waving the gun in hand. Apparently, he had the backing of a powerful lobby who directed police to keep silent.

Besides the Hindu Mahasabha, other extremist outfits have jumped into the fray. Amid anger over the shooting by a 17-year-old gunman at a group of anti-CAA protesters in the Jamia area, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) has also sparked a row saying they will honour the shooter. While questions are being raised about the alleged radicalization of the shooter, the controversial Hindu Mahasabha has called him the ‘true nationalist’.

“We respect Nathuram Godse and if someone is picking up the weapon to stop the voice of anti-nationals, to end terrorism, then that person is respectable for Hindu Mahasabha. Yesterday, the gunman has done the same thing. He said ‘Hum Tumhein Dein Azadi’. What more proof do we need? The ABHM delegation will go and meet him and felicitate him.”

The Hindu Mahasabha leader also claimed that such youths were not going down the wrong track as the Hindu Mahasabha feels that the Constitution, Religion, and Bhagavadgita clearly say that if you have to kill someone to protect the country, daughter, sister, then it is not wrong.”

Meanwhile, the Youth Congress has filed a criminal complaint against Indian Minister of State, Finance, Anurag Thakur for hate speech. The opposition has alleged that it was Anurag Thakur’s hate speech instigated the firing at peaceful students.

Anurag Thakur in a rally allegedly raised the slogan: “Desh ke gaddaron ko goli maro. Those who are traitors should be shot.” The large gathering outside the Delhi Police Headquarters also alleged that the police were hand in glove with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. They also alleged that the police were ‘mere spectators’ when the assailant opened fire on the protesters near Jamia. And they also forced an injured student Shadab to climb and jump over the barricades instead of removing them to help the injured student.

The felicitation of extremists is a true manifestation of Hindutva, where Gandhi is termed as a traitor and Godse labelled a patriot. The swift transformation of secular and democratic India to a radical and racist India is something which has left the world baffled. Reportedly, India has been asked to re-consider her acts as it is getting increasingly difficult for even friends of India to defend her.

The situation is getting grim for India because even US, European Union and other Parliaments have discussed the rapidly deteriorating situation because of the marginalization of Muslims in India and the violent crackdown on protesting students, majority of which are non-Muslims. Mob violence is not uncommon but when gun brandishing goons are lionized then it is cause for concern. Indian masses need to take a deep introspective look at which quagmire they are heading towards. It is still not too late to stem the rot.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host, who has authored six books on current affairs, including three on China