(NDTV.com
September 18, 2006)
The militant face of Hindutva
Harsha Kumari Singh, Kamaal Khan
Monday, September 18, 2006 (Lucknow, Jaipur):
Groups like the Bajrang Dal have been seen as Hindutva storm troopers capable of rioting, communal propaganda and intimidation.
But not possessing the ability to plot and carry off a serial bomb attacks which if true would mark a new chapter in their troubled and violent history.
The Bajrang Dal's mini army receives its weapons of choice, trishuls: the short blades, in a ritual called trishul diksha, carried out in Rajasthan three years ago.
It is similar to rituals where the VHP hands out 1000's of axes, part of its proselytizing efforts across India, especially in the hinterland.
"In every district we will have this campaign, so that this andolan reaches every village," said D B Gupta, President, VHP, Rajasthan.
Though these tiny blades evoked more bemusement than menace, the Gujarat riots proved otherwise.
The riots brought into focus the extent of the ability of militant Hindutva groups to plan and carry out widespread communal attacks.
But even then it wasn't clear until the Nanded blasts whether groups like the Bajrang Dal were able to set off bombs like the ones in Malegaon.
Head full of hatred
Rioting, street violence and intimidation is one thing but planning and carrying out serial explosions like in Malegaon is another.
Even though the Dal's manifesto talks of arms training it normally translates into programmes like the one held in Lucknow almost five years ago.
Here college students, no more than 20 years old, gathered in a maidan to fire air pistols and learn martial arts.
"The ISI and Christian missionaries are responsible for the spread of instability and terror. We are training our youth in weapons so that they are fully equipped to face such situations," said Avadh Behari, Prant Sanyojak, Bajrang Dal.
"Each individual will train a 100 soldiers. They will learn to handle knifes, lathis and rifles and will prepare for any situation," Uday Agarwal, Prashikshak, Bajrang Dal.
Air pistols, trishuls, karate moves and a head full of hatred; these are the weapons of Hindutva extremists.
Whether they have graduated to setting off bombs is still not clear. They may have the motivation but do they have the capability.