Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said on Tuesday that at least 10 people having close links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organisations were named accused in various acts of terror across India.
“Yes, during investigations of Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and [Ajmer] Dargah Sharif blasts, we have found names of at least 10 persons who have been associated with the RSS at some point or the other,” he told journalists here.
His statement comes two days after Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in Jaipur that probe agencies had found the BJP and the RSS conducted training camps to spread terrorism. “We will have to think about it seriously and will have to remain alert,” he had said. His statement drew sharp reactions from the RSS and the BJP and the latter’s allies such as the Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United).
“We have evidence”
Did the government have any evidence of the RSS links of the persons arrested in the blast cases? “We have evidence against them... there are statements of witnesses,” the Home Secretary said.
Mr. Singh said Sunil Joshi [now dead], who worked for the RSS in Dewas and Mhow from the 1990s to 2003, was involved in the Samjhauta Express and Ajmer Sharif Dargah blasts.
An RSS ‘pracharak,’ Sandeep Dange, wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was an accused in the two blasts and the one at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.
Lokesh Sharma, Rajender alias Samunder and Kamal Chouhan, now in jail for their involvement in the Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid blasts, were closely linked to the RSS. While Lokesh was its ‘nagar karyavahak’ (city functionary) in Deogarh, Rajendra was ‘varg vistarak’ (an important propagandist position). Ramji Kalsangra, who is also wanted for the Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid blasts, was an RSS associate, Mr. Singh said.
Ajmer blast
Another Godhra-based activist of the RSS, Mukesh Vasani, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast, while Devender Gupta, an RSS ‘pracharak’ in Mhow and Indore, was in jail in connection with the Mecca Masjid blast case. RSS activist in Shajhanpur, Chandrasekhar Leve, was arrested in the Mecca Masjid blast case, he said.
Mr. Singh also referred to Swami Aseemanand, who is alleged to be the main conspirator in the Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif Dargah blasts, and said he was associated with an RSS wing, Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, in Dang, Gujarat, from the 1990s to 2007.
Keywords: saffron terror, Hindu extremism, RSS, Sushil Kumar Shinde, R.K.Singh, Samjhauta Express blasts, Mecca Masjid blasts, Ajmer blasts
if it is against RSS then it's BIG Joke and if it is against muslims
then it is truth, great justice
What a "big joke" played on the common man to divert the attention? The key accused in all the cases are either dead or have not been arrested and in the court of law, their affidavit will play a crucial evidence and not any tertiary player.
Pity that the Home Secretary does not understand that these people are just "accused" and not "convicted". He should explain why no chargesheet has even been filed, if the Govt had credible evidence and get them convicted.
The answer is simple, he for sure knows that if they go to the courts it will turned down and hence decided to use the media to pursue his agenda and get them convicted through the media.
Sycophancy has percolated to such extent in this country. We can be sure that he will get some plum post in the Govt post his retirement for all his work for the party.
why such reactionary debate? if someone found guilty,someone confessed his involvements and investigations,narco analysis tests everything goes proves someone...then why to blame 'HOME SECRETARY' and any other, are we not acknowledging or we want to defend someone involvements?
Mere allegations and witness' statements alone can not prove RSS members are connected to terrorist acts. The secretary should have waited till the alleged terrorists are tried and convicted in a court of law. Millions of names may find its way to investigating agencies files. It does not mean they are guilty of terrorist acts.
Its sad when politicians resort to such cheap politics with no regard
of national interest. The Gov. of India dosent want the citizens to
concentrate on the core issues such as corruption and the falling
levels of personal security in India and other such stuff, that they
resort to create a front page story to divert the attention of the
general population. If those congress minister did have evidence
against the BJP and RSS they should submit it to the courts of India
and not give political speeches.
Totally biased statement influenced by Congress ideology !!
It is always heard a parallel Hindu terrorist group exists along with all those jihads. With all those government machineries like the military, paramilitary organization and innumerable CID establishments, if they can't control and extinguish them, why on earth we have a government ? Is it only to declare all these vocabulary when elections are upcoming ? We are tired of this type of nasty divide and rule ! Despite ruling this country for over 60 years, if they can't find real issues of this country, where even drinking water is scarce, it is better to quit politics/ bureaucratic elite houses !
Terrorists, who call themselves Hindus, might have involved themselves in the RSS
for a time, which is not proof that the RSS itself is behind these violent acts.
Secondly, the RSS may train followers in fighting skills (I don't have proof either for
or against), which does not make them terrorists. Personally, given the weakness of
the Congress Party in standing up for India in the face of Maoism, Jihadis who
murder Indians in Mumbai and other places, aggressive attitudes toward India on the
part of China, constant threats from Pakistan etc, it stands to reason that citizens
(such as the nationalist RSS) might assume some responsibility and prepare
themselves for terrorists attacks and even military attacks on the nation. Congress
needs to wake up and stand up. This party does not defend its citizens well at all. In
the face of both external and internal aggression, Congress is pathetically weak.
Why these accused have not been convicted yet ?
Unlike the Afzal Gurus UPA does not have any interest in not convicting them.
Is it because of lack of evidence ?
These individual should be punished because they used violent tactics. RSS and BJP both are right wingers, therefore, I'll not be surprised if most nonislamic terrorist will have links to one of these organization at one point in their lives. But if there was no institutional support provided by these organization, I do not see any problem. Right wing (BJP) has as much right to express their opinion as much as leftist (Communist) or centrist (Congress).
Our bureaucrats do not work fast.Who said?It is wrong at least in one
instance.See how quickly the home secretary rushes to defend the
minister who proclaimed'the Hindu terror'.Secretaries work to serve the
interests of ruling party.CBI will act to please the political
masters.Most of the media is purchasable.People seem to lose faith in
institutions including judiciary.Home Secretary should have been
discreet in his revelations.
These 10 might have voted for congress at one time or the other. How much it makes senses to release such things when investigations are going on? These are all ALLEGED but not yet convicted.
Just these people who are wanted has the association with RSS, why can't
it be said Indians abet terrorism. These may have RSS links. But can it
be proved that RSS agenda is terrorism.
How many of these "so-called" 10 terrorists have been convicted till date? Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Col. Purohit and others have been arrested in Oct 2008. Why not even a chargesheet filed against them till date? Why have they been detained since last 51 months without filing a charge-sheet?
If some of these "so-called" Hindu terrorists are convicted till date, then only we can say that they are terrorists. But, none of them have been convicted till date. Then why are you calling them "terrorists"?
As it is rightly said that there is no color of terrorism, but one can't
ignore the very sources of the idea from where it is getting ideological
justification.But the sad thing is it that the minority communalism is
becoming terrorism while majority communalism is seen as fitting
reply.Sooner we start to see both phenomenon in the same light of
criminal perspective it will be better.Terrorist activities cant be
justified on any pretext.We have good example of Pakistan which is
facing problems because of such policy.
Make (a damning) accusation first and produce the evidence later? All the "arrested" people are "alleged" to have been involved in terror activities. Should not the Home Secretary and his boss, the Home Minister, have waited for it to be established before making such insensitive statements? And what exactly is the role of the BJP in this? Shameful drama to say in the least.
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