It is a sign of our times that the question on whether the term ‘terrorism” can be prefixed with an adjective of a religious hue has become a key issue in our national discourse (“Rajnath blames UPA’s ‘Hindu terror’ focus”, Aug.1). The timing of the BJP’s accusation that the Congress has coined the term “Hindu terror” and “weakened the fight against terror” only reveals its intent to polarise citizens.
Commentators would readily agree that the right wing is less than accommodative as far as some of our minorities are concerned. It is also wrong to engage in “guilt by association”.
The religious fault lines in India are there for all to see. Terrorism, which is defined as an attack on innocent civilians and an assault on a society’s sense of humanity, is not religion-specific. But in India, it often stems from religious fanaticism and virulent nationalism. Irrespective of the religious identity of the perpetrators, all right-thinking people should condemn terrorism as nothing less than ‘barbaric cruelty’. Communities of different faiths can win peace and go about their normal business of life if they realise their common humanity and break the cycles of religious hatred and violence.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
