[sacw] SACW | 27 Oct. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire | 27 October 2002

__________________________

#1. Progressive Pakistani's Letter to Qazi Hussain Ahmed
#2. Pakistan Zindabad? (Badruddin R. Gowani)
#3. Outlook Magazine Cover Story On India's Loony Right
Fangs And Fury - Feeling betrayed by the BJP, the Sangh ups its=20
vicious ante, holding governance to ransom (Ranjit Bhushan, Saba=20
Naqvi Bhaumik)
#4. NGOs and academics condemn India's Hindu right-wing, but the US=20
administration is more circumspect (A.K. Sen)
#5. News report on Delhi conference combat communalism

__________________________

#1.

PPAD
Pakistanis for Peace and Alternative Development

Qazi Hussain Ahmed=20
17th October 2002
Amir, Jamat-e-Islami
Pakistan.

Dear Sir
PPAD is a Peace and Alternative Development group formed in 1998 by=20
academics, peace activists, intellectuals and professionals of=20
Pakistani origin to work for peace, tolerance and alternative=20
development in Pakistan.

We have noticed with great interest that Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal=20
(MMA), of which Jamat-e-Islami is a major component, has done well in=20
the October 10 elections. According to news reports it has won=20
majority of seats in the provincial legislatures of NWFP and=20
Balochistan as well as captured 45 seats in the national parliament.

Over the past several months we have also been painfully aware, along=20
with the entire world, of the vicious and inhuman attacks in our=20
homeland on the lives of innocent citizens belonging to the Christian=20
community and minority Muslim sects. We hope and pray that MMA=20
alliance will use its electoral victories as an opportunity to=20
restore complete communal peace and harmony in Pakistan, and reclaim=20
the rightful prestige of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and=20
social justice.

We firmly believe that the future of democracy in Pakistan and the=20
very integrity of the country depends on putting an end to the=20
rampant religious extremism and violence in the country. In this=20
respect, please allow us to remind the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal,=20
through your good offices, of its commitment to "Safegaurding the=20
fundamental rights, particularly those pertaining to life, property,=20
and honour of the populace, irrespective of caste, creed, color,=20
language, religion, sect and sex." (Article 4 of the MMA Election=20
Manifesto).

May Allah help you and your political alliance to live up to the=20
promises made to the people of Pakistan.

P.S. We will very much appreciate your reply to this letter.

Dr Ahmed Shibli=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0 ias23@h...=A0
2 Warwick Gardens, Ashtead
Surrey, UK.

Coordinator: Dr Ahmed Shibli, UK
Core Members: Dr Ghazala Anwar, Newzealand. Group Captain (Rtd.)=20
Cecil Chaudhry, Pakistan. Nazeer A Chaudhry, USA. Prof. Hassan=20
Gardezi, Canada. Prof. Bilal Hashmi, USA Owais Hasin, Pakistan.=20
Ayyub Malik, UK. Dr Babar Mumtaz, UK. Prof A H Nayyar, Pakistan.=A0

_____

#2.

[27 October 2002]

Pakistan Zindabad?

by Badruddin R. Gowani

Elections:
There are many types of democracies in the world, and unless they=20
don't go against the United States' "national interests," they are=20
allowed to flourish and be practiced. Pakistan's first military=20
dictator (who came to power with the approval of the US), General=20
Mohammad Ayub Khan, later Field Marshall, once said that democracy is=20
not suitable for countries with hot climate! (In the US, most of the=20
Blacks, Latinos, and the poor Whites must be under the impression=20
that it is the cold climate which their leaders think is not=20
appropriate for implementing the true democracy.) He introduced=20
"Basic Democracy" with 80,000 members to be elected by the people,=20
and once elected they in turn would vote for the presidential=20
candidate. For any ruler it is much easier to bribe or twist arms of=20
a small number of people rather than the whole population. He was=20
forced out of power after 11 years. His democracy produced twenty-two=20
richest families =96 including Ayub's own =96 which controlled most of=20
Pakistan's wealth.

Two weeks back the fourth military ruler and President General Pervez=20
Musharraf presided over the general election. How rigged were they?=20
Definitely, they were little more rigged than the last US=20
presidential elections. As in the US, where the winners are always=20
the corporations and the capitalists, in Pakistan, it is always the=20
military that control's the strings. Any way, the Islamic parties=20
never received more than seven percent of the votes in 56 years of=20
Pakistan's history, got about fifteen percent of the votes!

The rise in percentage of votes is related to the barbaric bombings=20
of Afghanistan and the cruel killings of its people =96 not to forget=20
the creation of so many refugees =96 by the US. Last year, the US=20
thanked the Al Qaeda leaders (without any kind of public display or=20
meeting any of them), for ramming planes into the World Trade Center=20
Towers and the Pentagon building, because that provided her an=20
opportunity to come out openly with a terrorist plan for waging war=20
all over the world. Now it is time for the remnants of the Al Qaeda=20
and their hard-line Islamic supporters in Pakistan to thank the US=20
for the election results.

The US role, directly or indirectly, in creating situations whereby=20
the Islamic fundamentalists gain access to power is not new. For=20
example, take the case of Iran: it supported the criminal and=20
oppressive rule of Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, up until=20
the end. The then President Jimmy Carter while visiting Iran=20
declared that country to be an "island of stability" =96 at a time when=20
Iran was passing through a serious political crisis and Ayatollah=20
Ruhollah Khomeini's supporters were out on the streets demanding the=20
Shah's abdication. Back in 1951, the Shah was overthrown by the=20
nationalist Mohammad Mossadegh, but was reinstated in 1953 by the CIA=20
(Central Intelligence Agency). The political repression and economic=20
disparity were the main highlights of his rule =96 if one does not=20
count the Shah's sycophancy of the US. In February 1979, Shah had to=20
step down making room for Khomeini. This time the exit was=20
permanent. (Although Khomeini went to meet his Allah in 1989, his=20
repressive religious apparatus is still quite intact.)

The Shah, one of the modern day pharaohs, died in the lap of the=20
Egyptian pharaohs. Egypt's own pharaoh, President Anwar el-Sadat,=20
was another one of US favorites. (In the past, when he was not yet=20
the US puppet, he was the Hitler for the US. Nowadays, it is Saddam=20
Hussain who is the Hitler, but in the past he was in the good books=20
of the US.) His rule was marked by the same traits too. The Islamic=20
fanatics did not succeed in gaining power in Egypt, but in 1981 they=20
exiled Sadat to another world. His successor Hosni Mubarak is still=20
in power =96 through elections held with one candidate, i.e., he=20
himself. Neither the US government nor the US media bothers, even=20
superficially, to remind Egypt about "democracy."

The US friendly dictators are heavenly blessed, in a sense that=20
whenever they are at odds with their Master, some or other=20
international event or crisis brings them closer to the US=20
establishment; thus erasing whatever minor hesitancy (for the sake of=20
democratic fa=E7ade) there would have been on part of the US in=20
associating with military or unelected regime(s). Pakistan's=20
military dictator and destroyer Zia ul Haq (1977-1988) was one such=20
leader who suddenly became the darling of the western world,=20
specifically the US, when the then Soviet Union (now Russia) invaded=20
the neighboring Afghanistan. And now Musharraf, who was treated like=20
a leper by former president Bill Clinton, has become a buddy for=20
President George Bush, because he is supporting =96 or more precisely=20
his support is hijacked =96 the US war in Afghanistan.

And how can anyone forget the Islamic mess in Afghanistan in which=20
the US played and is again playing a major but a devastating role.

Few things are quite clear:
The emerging political scene in Pakistan is showing some resemblance=20
to that of India; the official "enemy."
The coalition of six Islamic parties, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, is=20
Pakistan's answer to India's Sangh Parivar. (The testing of nuclear=20
bombs, missiles, and other idiocies, or more appropriately, dangerous=20
idiocies, have always been mutually reciprocated. This time, India's=20
family of Hindu fundamentalist groups has a competition from their=20
"enemy." The equivalent name could be Ijtima Ahl-e-Khana).
There will be MMA government in the NWFP (North West Frontier Province).
The life of women will become much more miserable =96 if not throughout=20
Pakistan =96 then at least in two provinces =96 NWFP and Balochistan,=20
where probably, MMA will be a partner in the coalition government.
(Already, the government employees in Balochistan are rushing to get=20
"shalwars," loose baggy pants with drawstrings, because Maulana=20
Fazlur Rehman said so in one of his statements.
(Benazir, currently in forced exile, has since 1980s stopped wearing=20
sari and is seen in public with her head always covered. If she is=20
invited back from exile and asked to become a prime minister, I hope=20
the Mullahs don't' ask her to wear burkha, because failure on part of=20
Tony Blair and Bush to recognize her would result in her being=20
declared a Muslim terrorist.)
The suffering of minorities will multiply. Neither Musharraf nor PPP=20
would be much bothered by this. (Like in the US, where neither the=20
Republicans nor the Democrats are worried about the colored people=20
rotting in prisons, i.e., the victims of the so called "drug war.")=20
Ahmadis (a Muslim sect declared non-Muslims by the then government in=20
1974), Hindus, Christians, and Shia Muslims have been the target of=20
Sunni fanatics for a long time now.
There will be a rise in the number of blasphemy cases.
(I would not mind at all being proved totally wrong on any or all of=20
the above.)

The MMA and the US:
Would there be a big confrontation between the MMA and the US?
Usually it is difficult to predict with any accuracy. However, to=20
speculate about certain things while keeping in mind the particular=20
situation in Pakistan would not be too much risky.
Neither of the three MMA leaders, Shah Ahmed Noorani, Qazi Hussain=20
Ahmed, and Rehman, are idealists in the mold of Mulla Omar or Osama=20
bin Laden who would go to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to=20
fight the US. It does not mean that they would hesitate to chop off=20
some body's limbs or hands, to stone women to death, to indulge in=20
religious violence. Saying that, however, one has to concede that=20
they are also political animals =96 and now that they have some=20
political power, they should indeed be more political or if one can=20
say more animalistic. Last year, when the US was destroying=20
Afghanistan, they and other Islamic leaders made some noises, and the=20
military government put them behind bars or under house arrests.=20
Later they were released. None of them did anything drastic which=20
could have pitted them seriously against the army or to stop the US=20
bombing of their "Muslim brothers."
(Noorani is MMA chairman and leader of JUP or Jamiat-ul-Pakistan,=20
Ahmed is MMA vice-president and leader of a small close-knit but=20
influential Jamaat-i-Islami, and Rehman is MMA secretary-general and=20
leader of Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam, the major supporter of the=20
Taliban. The other three MMA partners are: Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam=20
(Samiul-Haq group), Jamiat Ahle Hadith (of Professor Sajid Mir), and=20
surprisingly, a Shia party, Tehrik-e-Islami (of Allama Sajid Naqvi).

Some of the recent statements are not in any way outright hostile to the US=
:
Rehman has this to say: The MMA "wants equal and balanced relations=20
with the West and the U.S." "But the U.S. would have to moderate its=20
policy. The U.S. should also give up its desire to establish its=20
superiority in the region."
"The U.S. should realize that Pakistan is an independent country =85=20
and the U.S. should respect our national sovereignty, which would=20
help in establishing durable relations between the two countries."
Hussain has this to say: "We assure the international community [read=20
the US] that we are not terrorists. We will not use this country for=20
terrorism, nor allow anyone to use this country for terrorism."
"But we do not approve of foreign interference. For this we do not=20
need any help from the American forces nor their bases in the=20
country."
Hussain told the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) of his=20
meeting with the diplomats of the US and the United Kingdom who had=20
gone to see him: "They asked us about our policies and the future=20
plans and we told them in very clear terms that we wanted friendly=20
contacts and friendly ties with the outside world keeping our=20
independence and sovereignty secure."
None of the above demands seems unreasonable. And the reason behind=20
this reasonableness is that their two main supporters, the Pakistan=20
military, and especially its intelligence wing, the ISI (Inter=20
Services Intelligence), and Saudi Arabia, the nerve center of the=20
Islamic fundamentalism, are themselves under scrutiny of the Great=20
Fundamentalist. Additionally, the US is usually more comfortable in=20
its dealings with the political and/or religious fascists, and so=20
most probably, it would work out some formulae to deal with the MMA=20
leaders.

Internal destruction:
The central worry for anyone concerned about the survival of Pakistan=20
and the peace of the region should be as to how are the=20
fundamentalists going to act or react internally on assuming power?=20
One has to accept that at present Pakistan is in a totally miserable=20
state; its existence is in danger - it is like a vehicle in a movie=20
which has run on the edge of a cliff; a slight imbalance on the wrong=20
side and "The End" poster would show up. On the other hand, for many=20
extremists within the MMA and other Islamic groups, this is like=20
winning a jackpot =96 a screwed up ideology backed up by the provincial=20
government's power. (For the Sangh Parivar in India, the state of=20
Gujarat is a "laboratory" for experimenting Hindutva or Hinduness.=20
Their "experiment" succeeded when they murdered and burned more than=20
two thousand Muslims and raped hundreds of Muslim women. The=20
province of NWFP would become an Islamic laboratory for straightening=20
up those Muslims who are not the MMA type of Muslims.) The=20
frustration of their inability (due to their leaders' pragmatism =96=20
that is if they decide to avoid confrontation with the US, which I=20
think they will) to inflict any damage to the US would translate in=20
more domestic violence. So what will happen is that the off shoots=20
of the coalition partners and other extremist Islamic groups who are=20
currently busy in sporadic violence; killing minorities, bombing some=20
or other place would do so on a bigger scale.

They still have enough tears left for their "Kashmiri brothers," so=20
they would hold on to that issue at the expense of the South Asian=20
peace and the Indo-Pak relations. However, none of their tears are=20
for their Pakistani Shia brothers whom they are killing and would=20
like them to be declared as kaffirs or infidels.
If things get out of control, both Pakistan and India could again be=20
on the war path. (Just recently, India has started pulling back its=20
troops from the border =96 though not from the LOC or Line of Control=20
which divides the Indian and Pakistani Kashmir. Pakistan is doing=20
the same thing.)

On the other hand, the US would continue doing what it is good at =96=20
i.e., hunting down "terrorists,'" bombing, spying, and keeping eye on=20
the whole region but would try to keep a much low profile.

Besides life and property, destruction can also be of culture and=20
entertainment. Zia's government (1977-1988) played an important role=20
in the destruction of cultural and entertainment activities. Now it=20
seems the present lot of fanatics is going to ban dance, music and=20
other forms of arts in at least two provinces. Most of the people=20
who would suffer from these draconian measures would be the average=20
people who cannot afford to go to posh hotels in big cities to attend=20
the concerts and fashion shows or to fly to foreign countries for=20
pleasure. A little description of a fashion show held in September=20
2001 would give the reader some idea:
"=85 A well thought out mixture of oomph and glam. A concoction that=20
oozed sex appeal so generously that the audience couldn't help but=20
lust after the divas strutting past them=85." (AJA, "A Casablanca=20
Night," "Dawn Images'" September 30, 2001, p.1.)
These kinds of shows are still regularly arranged. On the other=20
hand, in the NWFP, the theater owners have blackened the cinema=20
posters. Nobody knows when the ban will apply. A certain segment of=20
society can ogle live divas, while the average people would be=20
prohibited from even seeing divas on the sliver screen! In some=20
parts of the NWFP the mullahs did not even permit women to vote=20
during the recent election, and also during the last election.

Some of the other regressive measures announced are: banning=20
co-education, separate universities for women, releasing pro-Taliban=20
extremists, and Friday as a holiday.
(You can't beat the mullahs; they are hell bent on separating men and=20
women, however, they would also not allow homosexuality. Hussain has=20
another twisted logic: "there will be no restrictions on women, but=20
they have to live according to the teachings of Islam." What else=20
can be a greater restriction for women in Muslim countries than=20
Islam?)
And most probably, it will be Hussain who would try to portray a=20
moderate face a la Vajpayee style, while the others will play=20
Singhals, Adwanis, Togadias, Thackerays, and Modis.

Another Algeria:
In June 1991, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the North African=20
country of Algeria declared to turn their nation into an Islamic=20
state. In the first round of elections held in December that year,=20
the FIS won the first round by winning 188 of the 430 seats. The=20
military suspecting that the fundamentalists would win the second=20
round too intervened by canceling the elections which were to take=20
place in January 1992. Under pressure from the military and=20
politicians, President Chadli Ben Jadid resigned and the military=20
took over power. The army's decision was supported by the US and=20
France (Algeria's former colonial master). All FIS leaders were=20
arrested and the elections were nullified, because the army was not=20
interested in sharing power with the FIS. The ensuing violence=20
claimed just in 1992, more than 2,000 lives. The two groups MIA=20
(Mouvement Islamique Arme) and GIA (Groupe Islamique Arme) were=20
heavily involved in terrorism. Artists, writers, poets, doctors,=20
professionals, journalists, unveiled schoolgirls, later on even=20
veiled females were killed in gruesome manner. The military=20
government created its own death squads.
Only in 1999, the violence ended.

In Pakistan this is possible under two scenarios: when the Musharraf=20
government under pressure from the US suspends the NWFP and=20
Balochistan governments, or the Islamic sympathizers in the army=20
openly comes out in support of the Islamic parties. But the=20
Musharraf backed Muslim League (QA) may take the support of MMA in=20
forming the central government, so in theses circumstance Pakistan=20
becoming South Asia's Algeria is not very probable. Also, one of the=20
name for the
prime minister's post being floated around by the MMA is that of Rehman.

Long Live Pakistan or Pakistan Zindabad:
Two free advices:
The ball is now in the Islamic court. The MMA leadership should=20
calmly and clearly think out a strategy to pull Pakistan out of the=20
mess it is in right now. The political and religious rhetoric is one=20
thing, and the practical and possible strategy is another matter.=20
Say adios to the seventh century and enter the twenty first century=20
with open mind. There were no computers or cars then, does it mean=20
that people should now stop using them and ride camels? Only=20
progressive education, scientific knowledge, rational thinking,=20
gender equality, pluralistic outlook, multi-culturalism, and=20
technological advancement =96 with respect for environment and animals=20
=96 can lead to long lasting and egalitarian development.
If the first advice is hard to chew then the second one is here. It=20
is merely for survival and not development: In today's world, the=20
survival of Gods and gods is dependent on the fundamentalist=20
bodyguards; and the survival of those bodyguards is dependent on=20
territory =96 that is Pakistan.
Unless, there is a plan to secede and make NWFP a new nation of=20
Islamistan =96 if it happens, it would be another Afghanistan creating=20
serious repercussions in South Asia.
The slogan of "Allah Akbar" is nice to stir up people's emotions, but=20
it cannot feed people, develop nations, or face the Technological god.

_____

#3.

Outlook Magazine | Nov 04, 2002 =A0=A0=A0

COVER STORY
Fangs And Fury
Feeling betrayed by the BJP, the Sangh ups its vicious ante, holding=20
governance to ransom
RANJIT BHUSHAN, SABA NAQVI BHAUMIK
They say with pride that they are the guardians of Hindu dharma.=20
Their self-proclaimed selflessness and commitment, they claim, cannot=20
be questioned.
And yet they enjoy being power centres the nation has to contend=20
with. The prime minister talks peace with them. State
Obstacle Course
Ten things the BJP and The Parivar cannot agree on
governments pander to their demands. They appear above the law. They=20
spew venom, ridicule minorities and call for the formation of Hindu=20
suicide squads to fight Muslim fundamentalism. Before the=20
announcement of any policy, it is their views that are sought. Before=20
making any move, many in the government, including cabinet ministers,=20
solicit their approval. When they sneeze in Mumbai, Nagpur or New=20
York, New Delhi catches a cold.

Welcome to the new, extra-constitutional world of India=B9s loony right.

The figureheads are well known. Bal Thackeray, Ashok Singhal, Praveen=20
Togadia, Narendra Modi, Vinay Katiyar, Acharya Giriraj Kishore.

... Their rabble-rousing rhetoric is there in print and on television=20
for everyone to see. And the more their extreme posturing is given=20
coverage, the more pleased they are with the world (see
Press-Ganged Centrestage). And yet these gentlemen, who have made the=20
business of abrasive quotes a veritable cottage industry, complain=20
that they have been misunderstood and painted black by=20
"pseudo-secularist enemies of India".

Last week, VHP international working president Ashok Singhal was a=20
picture of mystification and hurt. "Why does everyone call us names?=20
The Congress is abusing us every day. After all, what have we done?=20
What has Togadia said? Jehadis have entered the Congress and are=20
attacking our offices all over the country," Singhal grovelled,=20
before disbelieving reporters could put across their thoughts on=20
political extremism.

Were the "loony right" merely indulging in verbal pyrotechnics, it=20
wouldn=B9t have been so bad. But they have now begun attacking=20
government policies, the BJP=B9s political allies, minorities and=20
constitutional authorities. And if this is not enough, the saffron=20
extremists also want to be on the centrestage of politics,=20
notwithstanding the harm they are causing their own government.
The attacks are all-encompassing, the ambit of the monologue=20
seamless. And when it comes to dialogue, the tenor is designed to=20
inflame passions and is actively backed by bellicose=20
demonstrations=8Band if need be, physical intimidation=8Bto show their=20
strength on the ground.

Sample
some of the rhetoric the Extreme Right has spewed in the last few weeks:

* Narendra Modi during his Gaurav Yatra: "If Gujarat is to be=20
developed, a system has to be developed where every child gets=20
education, manners and employment. For this, those who are=20
multiplying the population at a rapid rate will need to learn a=20
lesson."
* Praveen Togadia: "After Narendra Modi did such a good job=20
here of controlling the riots, some dogs in Gujarat barked, then they=20
barked in other parts of the country and now an Italian dog (Sonia=20
Gandhi) has begun to bark."
* Ashok Singhal: "Brajesh Mishra is wrongly advising the prime=20
minister. He should be sacked. Bureaucrats like him are a hindrance=20
in our smooth equation with Vajpayeeji."
* RSS chief K. Sudarshan: "We cannot follow economic policies=20
laid down by those influenced by the World Bank and IMF. Officials=20
connected to them should be removed forthwith (the oblique reference=20
here is to the bete noire of the swadeshi camp, disinvestment=20
minister Arun Shourie)."
* Bal Thackeray: "We want Hindu suicide squads who can also create terror."

Is there anything at all that can be done to rein in these=20
practitioners of this brand of hate politics? Given political will,=20
there are several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which=20
directly invite penal provisions. Says Supreme Court lawyer Prashant=20
Bhushan: "Most of the IPC is dedicated to maintaining peace and=20
public order. On a number of these counts, this government and its=20
affiliates stand indicted." Listed under are some of the relevant IPC=20
provisions:
* Section 153(a): promoting enmity between different groups on=20
grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of=20
harmony;
* Section 153: wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots;
* Section 153(b) postulates the penalisation of three kinds of=20
communal propaganda;
* Section 295(a): deliberate and malicious acts intended to=20
outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious=20
beliefs;
* Section 298: uttering words with deliberate intent to wound=20
religious feelings;
* Section 505: statements conducive to public mischief,=20
statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred and ill-will between=20
classes, offence committed in place of worship;
* Section 503: criminal intimidation.

Trouble is, these provisions in the law are applied very rarely. And=20
even if they are, the case progresses at a snail=B9s pace and is often=20
forgotten or put in deep freeze. Says Congress spokesperson Jaipal=20
Reddy, "The government is not interested in taking action against=20
these people because they are, after all, from the same=20
family." Adds CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee, "The dignity of=20
politics and the level of debate has reached gutter proportions,=20
thanks to some saffronites. And if you expect criminal action against=20
these people by their own government, well, obviously it is not=20
coming."

Lawyers like Bhushan point to the lack of political will. He argues=20
that relevant portions of POTA can easily be invoked against=20
offenders. According to him, Section 3 of the act clearly states that=20
=8Cterrorist acts=B9 cover whoever "with intent to threaten the unity,=20
integrity...to strike terror in the people or any section of the=20
people...or threatens to kill or injure such persons", and thus=20
qualifies for indictment. "If SIMI activists can be booked under=20
POTA, why not saffronites? Singhal saying openly that a successful=20
experiment has been carried out in Gujarat and may be repeated in=20
other parts of the country is a blatant act of terrorism. Why has no=20
action been taken against him?" he asks.

The key question is, can the exigencies of politics allow the=20
government to act? Some BJP leaders say that while outwardly there is=20
a battle of attrition raging within the affiliates of the Sangh=20
pantheon, a larger gameplan is in operation. Says one veteran BJP=20
leader, "Any practicing politician will tell you that there is overt=20
and covert politics being played out. While people like L.K. Advani=20
are overt politicians, Togadia is covert. There is not much=20
difference in what they are saying. It is just the language that is=20
different. Advani is in the government. Togadia is outside it. So=20
Advani=B9s speech has to be restrained, while Togadia is a free man.
After all, people like Togadia, Modi and Singhal are basically doing=20
our work, saffronising the scenario.The BJP itself is nothing but a=20
patchwork of various Sangh platforms."

BJP strategists also argue that such language may render the =8Curban=B9=20
press aghast, but it does serve a larger purpose. Says one BJP=20
leader, "If Thackeray talks of Hindu suicide squads, there is a=20
feeling that India has taken Pakistan-backed terrorism lying down for=20
far too long. It appeals to people=B9s sentiments." But sociologist=20
Ashis Nandy does not believe such tactics will yield the BJP any=20
dividends. "The words of Modi, Singhal or Togadia are acts of=20
desperation.

It is a last-ditch effort to at least keep their core constituency=20
intact. To say that the BJP will gain electorally would be to put too=20
optimistic a spin on the situation. There would be 10 or 15 per cent=20
people who believe in these rantings. They are cannon fodder for the=20
party."

Some
like lawyer Rajeev Dhawan say that legalities apart, what is required=20
is a political and social baseline. "Has the PM strongly condemned=20
the statements of his allies like the Shiv Sena? Is he in a position=20
to do so? When Enoch Powell made his =8CRivers of Blood=B9 speech in=20
England in 1968, he became a parliamentary leper. No such=20
stigmatisation has followed here." There is another problem=20
public-spirited lawyers like Dhawan see. "If you file a criminal case=20
against any of these extremists, you also have to sue the newspaper=20
or publication where the statements have been carried. That simply=20
enlarges the scope of litigation."

But the other question is, why is the "extremist fringe" becoming so=20
loud and demanding now? Togadia puts it bluntly: "We=B9ve been=20
well-wishers and supporters of this government. It is high time they=20
cater to us." Basically, it is a matter of the VHP=B9s own survival.=20
For it, the BJP-led government has been a huge let-down. Four years=20
into power and not one of the VHP=B9s demands has been met: there is no=20
national law against cow slaughter, conversions have not been banned=20
and most appallingly for the VHP, the Ram temple issue, on which the=20
BJP rode to power, stays in cold storage.
The RSS too supports the VHP=B9s view that some sort of movement has to=20
be made on this front. Says RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav, "We believe=20
it is possible for the government to argue in court that the=20
undisputed land next to the site should be handed over to the Ram=20
Janmabhoomi Nyas
to start construction of the temple." Basically, both the RSS and VHP=20
refer to the formula offered by the Kanchi Shankaracharya earlier=20
this year. The BJP, however, would prefer to skirt the Ayodhya issue=20
as it sees no further electoral gains in it.

With only two years left for the BJP at the Centre, the Sangh parivar=20
believes time is running out. Which is why it has gone on the=20
offensive. Says another highly-placed RSS strategist: "The bottomline=20
is that the BJP keeps saying that the NDA is made up of several=20
parties. But they forget there are two more allies giving it outside=20
support=8Bthe RSS and the VHP. Whenever the tdp wants something, it=20
threatens to withdraw support and the Centre responds by giving=20
Andhra Pradesh some more funds. Similarly, the VHP wants a few acres=20
of land in Ayodhya and the RSS wants to push its ideological=20
agenda.It is the price the BJP must pay for our support. Or else we=20
too can withdraw."

The threats of this so-called "fringe" have already had an impact on=20
policy.Ever since the parivar onslaught began some months ago, the=20
BJP has been caving in to pressures on various fronts. Disinvestment,=20
for instance. Says a senior RSS functionary, "We believe we are=20
winning the disinvestment war." Madhav is more diplomatic: "We are=20
happy the disinvestment policy is being reviewed." Then, last week=20
BJP president Venkaiah Naidu was clearly playing to the parivar=20
gallery when he demanded that all states frame laws banning=20
conversions. The party also announced that a ban on conversion will=20
be a key feature in its manifesto for the Gujarat elections. And=20
highly-placed BJP sources also say that they believe the Vajpayee=20
regime will again make some sort of conciliatory moves on the Ram=20
temple issue.

On their part, BJP strategists do admit that the party will be=20
nowhere without the support of the Sangh parivar cadres, particularly=20
as it faces a number of vital assembly polls in the run-up to the=20
2004 general elections. Says a BJP general secretary, "When Atalji=20
first took over as PM, we could afford to ignore the parivar and give=20
priority to our NDA partners. But now as we head towards another=20
election, we need them more than ever." Which is why the BJP has been=20
cautious in its response to the VHP=B9s attack.

So, given the kind of symbiotic relationship the BJP has with the=20
parivar, it=B9s very unlikely that the government will act against it.=20
At best, it can organise peace parleys. Or mildly and covertly=20
denounce statements made by some of the Sangh leaders. But bringing=20
them under the law that applies to all other citizens is, as any BJP=20
leader will admit, beyond the pale of the Vajpayee government. That=B9s=20
safe and sound enough ground for the extremist fringe.

Source URL:=20
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=3D20021104&fname=3DCover+Story=
&sid=3D1

_____

#4.

Outlook Magazine | Nov 04, 2002 =A0=A0=A0

Staying On The Right Side
NGOs and academics condemn India's Hindu right-wing, but the US=20
administration is more circumspect
A.K. SEN

For the United States, the loony right didn=B9t exist in India until=20
grisly pictures from Gujarat shocked the US administration out of its=20
complacency. It also ballooned the ranks of NGOs and academics=20
warning about the inimical influence of Hindu extremists.

But the administration=B9s approach to tackling the right differs from=20
what NGOs and academics prescribe. For one, much to the latters=B9=20
mortification, Washington has adopted a low-key approach to the=20
fringe elements. Teresita C. Schaffer of the Center for Strategic and=20
International Studies, told Outlook, "Gujarat didn=B9t make anybody=20
look good. And it certainly didn=B9t make them look good in Washington.=20
Its muted condemnation is because it puts a greater weight on the=20
failure of the system of governance rather than blame the Hindu=20
right."

In his deposition to the US Commission on International Religious=20
Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal agency advising the=20
administration and Congress, academic Robert M. Hathaway gave another=20
reason: Washington feels that in dealing with India and Indians,=20
"private representations rather than public harangues frequently=20
prove more effective in producing a desired result".

But Gujarat seems to have broken this consensus, and this seems to be=20
happening already. For one, uscirf=B9s International Religious Freedom=20
Report for 2002 specifically links the escalation in communal=20
violence in India to the rise in the political influence of groups=20
associated with the Sangh parivar. The report says that with the=20
improved political fortunes of the bjp, "the climate of immunity for=20
the perpetrators of attacks on minorities appears to have=20
strengthened".

Sanskrit scholar Professor Michael Witzel says Americans are now=20
suddenly wary of the Hindu right. He explains, "If it is just a=20
political party, then nobody bothers. But if this is combined with=20
the targeting of an =8Cinternal enemy=B9 to push a particular agenda=8Blike=
=20
the persecution of Jews in Germany=8Bthen people start to wake up."

The NGOs have certainly woken up, organising protest marches and=20
warning people to ensure their donations don=B9t go to Sangh outfits.=20
Says Joe Grieboski, president, Institute on Religion and Public=20
Policy, "We are worried that India has moved away from diversity."

Worse, Vajpayee too has come under scrutiny. As Schaffer argues, "The=20
question that needs to be asked is whether Vajpayee=B9s moderation is a=20
false comfort. For whatever reason, he hasn=B9t been willing or able to=20
sustain that kind of policy. Vajpayee needs to stand up and say such=20
behaviour is unacceptable." If only.

______

#5.

The Times of India
October 27, 2002

Progressive groups should combat communalism: Sonia
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday lashed out at=20
the communal forces and exhorted the intellectual class to unite=20
against them.
She said writers and progressive groups should combat such elements.
"Secularism, like liberty, calls for eternal vigilance," said Gandhi.=20
"I believe that enlightened, liberal and forward-looking people,=20
especially writers and thinkers, hold the key to fashioning the=20
nation's response to this renewed challenge," she added.
She was addressing a national seminar Saajhi Virasat organised by=20
Progressive Writers' Association and Trust for secular and democratic=20
values, sponsored by Delhi state government.
The meet was attended by former journalist Kuldip Nayyar, Delhi=20
University vice-chancellor Deepak Nayyar, Left leader A B Bardhan,=20
writer Nirmala Deshpande and Delhi state chief minister Sheila=20
Dikshit.
Later, the state chief minister expressed her concern over the use of=20
caste and religion, which has emerged as a strong and emotional=20
divisive force.
The state chief minister said a call from the most eminent gathering=20
of thinkers, writers and intellectuals will awaken citizens.
The gathering also adopted the Delhi Declaration of the Creative=20
Community, and pledged to rekindle the spirit of tolerance and mutual=20
respect among the citizens.

______

#6.

Indian express
Sunday, October 27, 2002

=8CPolitics is like a toilet but VHP plays more than a cleansing role=B9
VHP vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore is busy these days=20
planning the next Dharma Sansad, scheduled for February 2003, which=20
is bound to revive the Ayodhya Mandir issue just before the assembly=20
elections in nine states.With a triple masters degree, including one=20
in political science, the 82-year-old Kishore is an expert at=20
combining politics with religion. He has been in and out of almost=20
all main organisations of the Sangh Parivar. He joined the RSS in=20
1940, the Jan Sangh by 1970 and the VHP in 1982. In an interview with=20
Ajit Kumar Jha of The Sunday Express, Kishore defends the VHP:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=3D12035

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