Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fundamentalism Is Terrorism

The abominable attacks on Churches in Orrisa have been a topic of much debate. It is not unfair to compare the carnage to Nandigram or Gujarat. The perpetrators of the crime have had the audacity to openly declare that they were responsible. This incident is the latest in a series of events which have threatened the secular fabric of this nation, the very quality which made our country so special. Rabid elements have strutted around with impunity, be it the SIMI or the Bajrang Dal-RSS-VHP troika. The BJP, which claims to be concerned about our internal security, calls this damnable troika "nationalists". I do not know about my fellow countrymen, but this is a form of nationalism i truly detest. If the fundamentalists who blew up Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad are to be called terrorists, the fumdamentalists who attack churches or mosques or any place of worship for that matter, deserve the same treatment. I see no difference between the two. The Government, which insists that terrorism will be dealt with firmly, should see to it that this troika is treated the same way as SIMI is. Only then can it claim to be sensitive to the urgent need of protecting the secular nature of the country, and also be true to its claim that it truly stands as an alternative to the shameful and despicable acts of communal violence that the BJP and its ideological masters pursue. For the record, i am an engineering student. My family lives in Ahmedabad, and we were very, very lucky that the bombs did not hurt us the way they destroyed so many families. As much as i appreciate bringing those who planned that attack to justice, i would be deeply ashamed if the same justice was not offered to the thousands of brothers and sisters, whose loved ones were hurt by the events of the past two months.