Aman Ullah Chohan
The concept of a Hindu Rashtra, or a Hindu nation, has been a subject of debate and discussion in India for many years. Proponents of a Hindu Rashtra believe that India, being a predominantly Hindu country, should be governed by Hindu principles and values. However, this ideology has been criticized by many for being exclusionary and discriminatory towards minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and Dalits. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization, has been accused of promoting the idea of a Hindu Rashtra and of systematically eradicating minorities. The RSS was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and is the parent organization of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. One of the primary goals of the RSS is to promote Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism, which seeks to establish a Hindu Rashtra in India. The organization believes that minorities, particularly Muslims, are a threat to the Hindu way of life and that their presence in India undermines the country's unity and integrity. This belief has been used to justify the persecution and marginalization of minorities in India. The RSS has been involved in several incidents of violence against minorities in India. In 2002, the organization was accused of being complicit in the Gujarat riots, where over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. The RSS was also linked to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, where over 60 people were killed and thousands were displaced. The organization has been accused of promoting a culture of hate and intolerance towards minorities. The RSS has been involved in the conversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, which many see as an attempt to erase the cultural and religious identities of minorities. The RSS has also been accused of infiltrating government institutions and spreading its ideology through them. Many members of the BJP, which is currently in power in India, are associated with the RSS. This has raised concerns that the government is promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda and is systematically eradicating minorities. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by the Indian government in 2019, has been criticized by many as discriminatory towards Muslims. The law offers citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who have entered India before December 2014. Critics argue that the law is an attempt to marginalize Muslims in India and to promote a Hindu nationalist agenda. The RSS has also been accused of promoting a culture of censorship and intolerance towards dissent. The organization has been involved in the censorship of books and films that it deems offensive to Hindu sentiments. It has also been accused of promoting a culture of violence towards those who disagree with its ideology. In conclusion, the concept of a Hindu Rashtra and the actions of the RSS towards minorities have been a subject of controversy in India. While proponents of a Hindu Rashtra believe that it will promote the unity and integrity of India, critics argue that it is exclusionary and discriminatory towards minorities. The RSS has been accused of promoting a culture of hate and intolerance towards minorities and of infiltrating government institutions to spread its ideology. The persecution and marginalization of minorities in India is a cause for concern and requires urgent attention and action.