BJP in denial on Malegaon

By ET Bureau, first posted 8 Nov 2008, 0000 hrs IST Muslim India

"In describing the BJP's support to the Malegaon blasts accused as 'political profligacy' the editorial appears to be right on dot about the very grave danger of some members of the majority community falling prey to the machinations of the terrorists' scheme of things. Whether it is the hallowed institutions like the indian defence establishment or the police, it should be realized by one and all that they should not be allowed to be infilterated by terrorism of any kind--majority based or minority based. Terrorism is Terrorism; It is neither Hindu nor Muslim. It knows no religion , no caste and has no creed. It is anti-human. That's it. It should not be allowed to take deep roots in any of our institutions. The political profligacy of the kind advocated by some of the misguided elements in our polity should be put an end by simply voting them out. At the same time it should be remembered that pandering to the parochial elements by not doing anything about the painfully long investigation and legal processes only aggravates the problem rather than solving it. But then, going by the current state of affairs; I am often left to wonder 'who is seeking solutions here'? If that's the rhetoric ; we have no clues."- editorial comment Muslim India

While the Mumbai ATS probe into the Malegaon blasts is uncovering deeply disturbing linkages between fanatical Hindu groups and serving army officers, the BJP continues to be in denial.

The party’s support for the accused in the terror plot is vote-bank politics at its cynical worst. The main opposition party’s attempt to cast doubts on the investigation itself is blatant interference in a critical and highly sensitive process. For a party that keeps harping on ‘law and order’ and ‘national security’, outright support for individuals and groups accused of terrorist acts is sheer political profligacy. It is becoming increasingly clear that there are links between members of these extreme fanatical groups and the Sangh Parivar’s constituents.

In such a scenario, it is imperative to probe the nature and scale of these links and act against any groups that support terrorist violence. But given the failure of the secular-liberal parties to envisage a genuinely inclusive democratic project, one that breaks away from the identity-management paradigm, the majoritarian consensus has been virtually unchallenged. This consensus creates a climate where the BJP can put out the insidious logic of ‘patriotic’ terrorist groups.

Equally disturbing is the revelation that members of the armed forces may be directly involved in terror plots. The Indian army is widely seen as one of the last secular institutions in the country. A perception that is demonstrated, say, in the instinctive calls for calling out the army whenever communal riots break out. To have members of this fraternity now being suspected of active and direct involvement with fanatical groups and terrorist acts is a development that has grave implications for the nation. Indeed, the Deputy Army Chief has admitted as much while promising cooperation to the Mumbai ATS in its probe.

This is critical for the institution to retain its image and, indeed, its very character. There must be a thorough probe into links between serving armed forces members and all right-wing groups, and renewed efforts be made to totally insulate the army against such influences. Indeed, the investigation into the Malegaon blasts should change the very contours of the anti-terrorism paradigms in the country.

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Source: Editorial, The Economic Times