Ram Puniyani
In
the wake of the various acts of terror and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur’s motor
cycle being traced, it became clear that the investigating agencies are acting
on the wrong thesis that ‘all terrorists are Muslims’. A Pandora’s box opened
and the link of ex-ABVP activist, Pragya Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pandey, retired
Major Upadhayay, Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit and Swami Aseemanand came to
surface, Role of two organizations inspired by the ideology of ‘Hindu nation’,
Abhinav Bharat and Santana Sanstha also came to light. The investigations led
by Hemant Karkare, by the Rajasthan ATS and National Investigation Agency (NIA)
made it clear that there is a deeper nexus of elements like Purohit &Co.,
those who have been part of terror groups or have been supporting them in
various ways. The confessions of Swami Aseemanand, named many more activists
belonging to RSS combine, who are currently cooling their heels in jails and
are facing investigations for acts of terror.
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| Lt. Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit |
Lt.
Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit came to be identified as one of the major player in
the whole episode. He is the core person of extremist Hindutva group Abhinav
Bharat. He was arrested on 5th November 2008 by Maharashtra ATS
for his role in Malegaon blast. It was the investigation of Malegaon blast,
particularly under the leadership of Hemant Karkare, which unearthed the whole
terror network, which later on came to be termed as Saffron terror by
P.Chidmabaram, the Union Home minister. For Purohit and other army officers,
the army instituted a court of inquiry.
During the inquiry what Col Purohit said is very
revealing. Purohit claimed that he was part of the network as an infiltrator
and was keeping his superiors in the loop, keeping them informed. He claims
that he infiltrated the terror network to keep a tab on the same. But his
statement leaves a lot of questions unanswered. The major question is if he was
doing all this for army, why did army hand him over to Anti Terrorism Squad?
The whole investigation seems to be mired in mystery and
lots of facts need a further probe. Tehelka had also published investigative
reports naming several ex-military men from the Bhosala Military School and
their involvement in the Malegaon and other blasts, which was later confirmed
by the ATS. The involvement of other army officers needs to be brought to
surface as the whole matter seems to be much serious than just a case of few
officers keeping a tab of these terrorist groups.
The blasts taking place in front of mosques and similar
places where Muslims congregate for prayers, at the time when they are leaving
the congregation was a clear indication of involvement of ‘other’ groups than
the usual suspects, in which many a Muslim youth had been arrested and later
released due to lack of any evidence whatsoever.
In the light of many a military officers role in these
acts, it did not therefore, come as a surprise that Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief
used the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Bhosala Military school (BMS) say
that “military schools run under the aegis of Hindutva institutions are the
need of the hour,”.
Looking
at the key role played by Bhosala Military School, which is run by a group of
people whose sympathies with the RSS is no secret, one fails to understand why
the chief bosses of the school were not investigated for their role in the acts
of terror? Very few people even know that BMS is one of those rare schools who
impart training on service pattern to the students along with regular courses
which is aimed at encouraging and preparing them for entry into National
Defense Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA) etc and other defense
services.
Bhosala
Military School has a long history. It was set up by Dr. B.S. Munje, the mentor
of RSS Sarsanghclak, Dr. K.B. Hedgewar. Dr. Munje was inspired by Benito
Mussolini’s fascist methods and believed that one who controls army rules the
country. His statue in the Nagpur, where RSS was founded, has this phrase
written on the plaque. With this perspective in mind this school was set up to
act as a feeder for Indian army. The school was set up with the assistance of
British and it supplied officers to the British army. Its training is
meant to supply officers for Indian army. Now it emerges from different
confessions and statements that the groups involved in terror had deeper
connection with this school. What ideology it teaches and what it aims is very
clear from some of the statements of the accused.
The phenomenon of Hindutva terror allegedly revolves around the
likes of Lt. Col Purohit and Swami Aseemanand of RSS to name the two central
characters. After Swami Aseemanand’s confession the total picture and their
agenda becomes clear. Aseemanand had said that 'bomb is the answer to bomb'. He
also wanted to pave the way for the goal of Hindu nation through such terror
outfits and their goal was larger than just a blast here and a blast there,
they aimed at Hindu nation. Purohit in his statements during interrogation has
said that their effort was to fight the Indian Constitution for (Hindu) Nation,
“We will fight the Constitution to fight for our nation.” The RSS propaganda
that Hindu religion is in danger and it needs to be defended was also stated by
Purohit. He also says “many things are wrong in the country and need to be
rectified. Hindu religion is in danger. It is our duty to defend Hinduism.” And
finally “We have to establish this country in accordance with the Vedic
procedures; we want the Sanatan Dharma, the Vedic Dharma.”
The la affair Purohit is getting murkier and murkier. The agenda
of Hindu nation, the role of Bhosala military school and other army officers in
the whole chain of command cannot be accepted at the face value. It needs a
deeper probe and investigation of the whole terror network and the role of army
officers, as it is clear that Col Purohit’s statement that he was keeping other
army officers in the loop for an operation which was not the part of the army
intelligence work, is a matter of worry. The role played by Bhosla Military
School also needs to be probed. The ideology which such people are harboring to
fight Indian Constitution to build Hindu nation is a clear danger to our
Constitution, the democratic values and the plural character of the country.
How does one save the values of India’s Constitution, the values of India’s freedom
movement?
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