Terrorists who believe that their deeds benefit a religion are seriously wrong. Their deeds are a threat to the very religion they seek to serve. No sane religion or civil society can survive by propagating a cult of violence

In the aftermath of Partition, as the transfer of population began and the stories of atrocities against the fleeing minorities began to circulate, some real, some severely exaggerated and some fabricated hate proliferated and retaliatory violence broke out on both sides of the border. The agenda of ridding Pakistan of its Hindu and Sikh minority was pursued diligently and was officially supported. In retaliation, attacks were carried out on Muslims in India with the aim of encouraging them to pack up and leave for Pakistan.
At that time, the situation became so fluid and dangerous that India was tethering on the brink of a civil war. The Hindu extremist organisations got into the act and wanted to launch a campaign to subvert democratic, secular India and after a coup d'etat planned to install a Hindu Raj.
The attempt failed due to the fact that the event planned as the trigger of the coup, the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, acted as a wake-up call for the Congress government and they cracked down hard on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Mahasabha and saved the fledgling nation.
After Bapu’s murder, Sardar Patel launched an investigation within the government services, defence, intelligence and police ranks to root out Sanghis and Mahasabhaites. What they discovered was horrifying — all the wings were deeply infiltrated by Sanghis and Mahasabhaites.
It took all of Sardar’s ruthlessnessness to root out the contaminant influence. The placements were strategic and were to facilitate the taking over of the regime by a coterie consisting of the RSS sarasanghachalak, the Hindu Mahasabha supremo and a cabal of Hindu princes.
A majority of high caste Hindus supported this. Many were sympathetic to the extremist cause. Their one agenda was getting rid of the Mallechch Muslims. India was on the verge of civil war.
Today we see Hindu terrorism rearing its head once again and from the same quarters. Upfront is an organisation headed by the niece of Bapu’s murderer, Nathuram Godse, and the grand daughter-in-law of VD Savarkar, the chief patron and motivator of Bapu’s murderers. And the same patron organisations, the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an off-shoot of Hindu Mahasabha. They are again cloaking themselves as Hindu avengers against Islamic terrorists, but they are really fanatics who happen to be Hindus.
In the wake of attacks carried out by terrorists who happen to be Muslims, there is a great sympathy and admiration for these terrorists among Hindus.
Just as there was no lack of support for Nathuram Godse, there are many who admire and support the acts of the Sadhvi and the officer from the Indian army.
The Sangh Parivaar calls itself patriotic but does not hesitate a fraction of an instant before subverting our armed forces on religious and casteist lines.
Our police and armed forces are once again infiltrated by active and fanatical members of these fanatical organisations. Those who admire the deeds of the Sadhvi and the serving officer in the Army must remember that they are supporting the weakening of the national fabric. We will cease to exist as a nation if we loosen the bonds of our multi-religious multi-cultural ethos.
Terrorists who believe that their deeds benefit a religion are seriously wrong. Their deeds are a threat to the very religion they seek to serve. No sane religion or civil society can survive by propagating a cult of violence.
History and time have witnessed the destruction of all those who lived by the sword. For a while they seemed to prevail, as all tyrants do, but then the same strength that gave them the power turned on them and annihilated them. Those who live by the sword, perish by it too. We must heed this if we are to survive as a nation. An eye for an eye will end up making the whole world blind.
The other threat posed to our unity is the deeds of the likes of Raj Thackeray, who has been behaving like a thug. The extreme regionalism displayed by him and his mobs is a harbinger of disintegration. There are many who profess not to support his methods, but will not condemn his regional parochialism. They are the real threat. They certify and legitimise his actions and instead of condemning him, they end up endorsing his actions. In a country like India, there is no room for regional parochialism. Every Indian has a natural birthright over every region of India.
If louts like Raj Thackeray are not dealt with firmly and mercilessly, they will push India toward chaos and a forced civil war. The last time this happened, we broke into three pieces. This time, we will shatter into a million pieces.