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Training in martial arts to three million
volunteers
By Shamim Tariq
The armed, militant organizations
indulging in bloodshed in Kashmir, Punjab and north-eastern states or the
LTTE in South India or the Maoist groups indulging in violent activities
in some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, all of them are accusing
the government that it has failed to do justice to them and therefore they
have been compelled to indulge in gun running business. In spite of all
these things the Indian government sometimes invites them for negotiations
within the framework of the Indian constitution and sometimes declares
them anti-nationa.
This is correct in a sense because the arms and ammunitions which should
be with the police, army and paramilitary forces are in the hands of those
who challenge the unity and integrity of the country. They will no doubt
be called anti-national. But unfortunately the government does not treat
those who spread terrorism and take to arms in the name of Hindutva’ in
the same way as it treats other militant organizations. This is the reason
that the feeling among many groups and organizations of the majority
community of being above the law is increasing.
Latest information in this regard is very serious and a matter of concern.
After poisoning and distorting history, syllabus and fine arts, the Sangh
Parivar has now started training young boys and girls in martial arts
along with judo, karate and firearms. These days firing of guns is heard
frequently with regular intervals in the loneliness of night in the
Sarojini Nagar area of Lucknow. Here, one Bhopendar Singh from Kanpur is
giving training in martial arts to boys and girls within the age group of
20-22 years as well as senior people who have come here from 22 districts
of UP.
According to newspaper reports, the number of people being trained in the
Sarojini Nagar camp at present is 100. But according to the convener of UP
branch of Bajrang Dal, Avadh Bihari Mishra, the objective of this camp is
to prepare a group of two thousand trained and active youngmen who could
train a million youth in martial arts and handling of arms in camps at
various places. In addition to this, the objective is also to create such
atmosphere and mentality which was seen in the country at the time of
demolition of Babri Masjid.
Among Sangh Parivar’s affiliate organizations which are actively
participating in giving training in martial arts are RSS’s women’s
branch Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, Bajrang Dal and Bajrang Dal’s women’s
branch ‘Durga Vahini’. Though training camps and training are not new
for these organizations because they are imparting training in ‘lathi’
wielding and riot mongering since long but now they have started arming
their volunteers on military pattern.
The question arises as to why they have suddenly taken such a dangerous
decision? In this connection different people connected with Sangh Parivar
have said different things. Some people say that all this is being done
for building of Ram Mandir, some people say that in view of ISI
activities, such trainings have become essential while others say that
whatever is being done is to protect Hindutva and to teach a lesson to the
forces opposing the construction of Ram Mandir. The national convener of
Bajrang Dal, Surendra Kumar Jain also thinks that the main objective of
training in martial arts is to create self-confidence among the majority
community so that in case of slackness on the part of administration, they
may be able to protect themselves.
If this logic is accepted, why the right to impart training in martial
arts is not for non-Hindus, particularly minorities and people belonging
to backward sections. Is it not necessary to create self-confidence in
them? The fact is that these sections are the greatest victims of cruelty
and injustice. Therefore, as compared to others, they are more deserving
for self-help and self-protection. But in spite of all this, this right of
theirs cannot be accepted. By accepting rights of this type for some
sections or permitting any particular section or community to impart arms
training to its members, there will be feelings of insecurity among
different communities and it is quite possible that this insecurity may
result in armed conflicts.
This is not simply a doubt. Reports of all commissions, right from Madhwan
Commission to Sri Krishna Commission, appointed to enquire into the riots,
point out this fact and wherein armed fascist groups have been identified
again and again which have been playing an important but satanic role in
inciting riots. Now in Aligarh and Fatehpur the losses suffered by
backward sections through our own co-religionists can take extremely
serious situation throughout the country.
Moreover, any attempt to arm the youths of any community or organization
indicates lack of confidence of the people in the police, army and
paramilitary forces, intelligence, administration and government and also
tantamounts to practically preparing a parallel army. Therefore no sane
and responsible person can support this sort of activity. But during the
last few decades, the Sangh Parivar’s attempts to poison and pollute the
minds are so successful that its leaders have boldly started giving
statements which cannot be called by any other name except rebellion
against the existing government. For example, two leaders of Bajrang Dal
viz, Chauhan and Chandar have gone to the extent of saying that the
administration is no longer competent enough to teach a lesson to the
anti-national elements.
Not only this, in addition to militant organizations, the feeling of being
above law has so much pervaded the common people among the majority
community that in the ‘Readers Views’ column of the Hindi daily
‘Bharat Times’ of 19 June 2001, all the people have given the same
reply that the volunteers should be given military training so as to
enable them curb the disruptive activities of ISI and face the possible
danger from Pakistan.
If Pakistan was really a danger for India, it would not have been
dismembered after the worst defeat in 1971 even before the celebration of
silver jubilee of her existence. But the Indian government, which should
try to keep the morale of its people high in times of crisis goes on
raising the bogey of CIA and ISI even in good and peaceful times. The
result is that people of the majority community are suffering from fear
psychosis and that is why instead of having faith in the police and armed
forces, are taking recourse to lawlessness in the name of self defense.
This is not a good sign for constitutional democracy or civilized human
society. Some armed groups are already a headache for us. If there is
addition of another armed group having the support of the government and
also of the majority community, the country and its people will not be
able to tolerate it. This is such an obvious fact that the Sangh Parivar
and its government also know it, but probably they have been brainwashed
in such a manner as to think that if they too arm their volunteers like
the Taliban, they can arrest or exile their enemies.
But while thinking so, they forget that the group and tribal rivalry is
very old in Afghanistan and that in spite of rivalries and civil wars,
Afghan 'jirgas' (groups or parties) know the art of living. That is why in
spite of continued civil war for twenty five years, famine and drought
conditions for four years, bombardment first by Soviet Russia and
thereafter by USA, and being abandoned and ignored by United Nations and
world community, they are alive. The temperament of Indians is different.
Here in India, the government loses power if riots takes place during its
rule. BJP itself, in spite of creating a rage in the majority community
and demolishing the mosque and projecting itself as the protector of
Hindutva has not been able to secure complete majority. Whatever little
power and authority was secured by it, was lost in the subsequent
elections.
Therefore, the movement of arming its volunteers started by it does not
forebode well for it. But if it does not understand this, its consequences
will have to be borne by the whole Indian society. In response to armed
volunteers of the Sangh Parivar, armed volunteers of other groups and
parties will also be ready. q |
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