[sacw] Hindu Fascists for dropping of nukes over Pakistan

[Harsh Kapoor]

June 26, 1999
Posted below is a collective letter signed by Secular and peace activists
from India who point at the recent publication of the Hindu far right which
is openly advocating the use of Nukes over Pakistan. I would urge all on
this list to strongly condemn this call for mass murder. Please write to
the Indian Prime Minister and express your concern. Here is how you can
reach the Indian PM:

FAX No. Prime Minister of India: 011-91-11-301-6857

Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
Office of the Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi 110 011, India

(South Asians Against Nukes)
========================

The editorial appearing in the RSS [The Hindu Fundamentalist organisation]
mouthpiece "Panchajanya" (June 20, 1999), makes an alarming reading. It
raises many serious questions about India's security and also casts an
ominous shadow over the future of India's political life.

The editorial openly advocates dropping of nuclear bombs over Pakistan, as
a solution to long standing Pakistani hostility and belligerence against
India. It also asks in a rhetorical fashion as to why India carried out
tests of nuclear weapons if it was not meant to be used. And,to top it
all, the editorial calls upon [Indian] Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpeyee
to be the man of destiny by dropping nuclear bombs on Pakistan and to go
down in history as the man who brought about the "final solution".

The views expressed in the editorial are condemnable on various counts.
First of all, the total unconcern regarding destruction of human life on a
massive scale displayed in the editorial is not just appalling but
extremely frightening as well. The brazen advocacy of weapons of mass
annihilation, which can vaporise in a flash millions of men ,women ,
children and animals, has no parallel in history. Even during the most
turbulent decades following Hiroshima, marked by passionate ideological
conflicts, one does not remember a single instance, where use of nuclear
weapons has been put forward as a solution to political conflicts. If
anything, it shows abject moral bankruptcy of RSS ideology and reveals a
mindset which, if given opportunity, would think nothing of erecting
concentration camps and gas chambers, to "solve cultural and
civilisational" problems. This view is equally disturbing even from a
purely tactical point of view. The exhortation reveals an abysmal ignorance
about the apocalyptic nature of an atmospheric nuclear explosion just few
hundred kilometres from the Indian border. Not only that, the editorial
also shows criminal disregard of the fact that such insane outcries would
radically increase the possibility of a pre-emptive nuclear strike - more
so, given the fact that there is no dearth of fanatic and cowardly elements
within the Pakistani ruling establishment either, with horrendous
consequences. And the actual use of the bomb would inevitably result in
retaliatory strikes against the very hearts of India! In ordinary times, it
could have been possible to dismiss these views as intolerant outpourings
of mentally deranged men and ignore them. But in the present context to do
so will be suicidal as the RSS happens to be the de-facto
extra-constitutional centre of power in India, which exercises tremendous
control over the BJP led Govt. In view of the above, the nation has a right
to know from the Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee,a self-confessed RSS man, as
to what is his stand on the use of nuclear weapons. In fact, Mr. Vajpayee,
must forthwith openly and categorically dissociate himself from the RSS
view in clear and unequivocal terms. Failing this, the [India's] President
shall secure his removal from the office of the Prime Minister, because the
country is not safe even for a moment in the hands of a man who holds such
views on nuclear weapons.

Sincerely yours,
Gaurang Mehta
Dr. P.R. Ram(EKTA)
Pushpa Mehta(UTUC)
Dolphy D'souza(VOTE)
Rohini Hensman(URG)
Sukla Sen(EKTA)
Leni(DRT)
Dr. Smita Puniyani(PFSC)
Anant Kamerkar
Irfan Engineer (EKTA)
Asad bin Saif(EKTA)
Prof. NandKumar(EKTA)
Prof. Uday Mehta(EKTA)

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