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Toronto, Canada Jeffrey S. Ram, Editor July 15, 2022
Image: courtesy National Herald
On August 15, 1947, India achieved independence from British rule. The Constitution of India promised to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY, AND THE UNITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE NATION.
However, with the election of the Bhartiya Janata Party as the national government in 2014, attacks started on Muslims, Christians, political opponents, critics, and constitutional guarantees. The fascist methods used by BJP’s central and provincial governments to establish a Hindutva nationalist state (“HINDU RASHTRA”) have made India a Hindutva Fascist state. Many Indians feel that India is doomed unless democracy is restored.
DIFFERENCES IN HINDUTVA AND HINDUISM
Hindutva is an ideology that aims to establish the domination of Hindus and the Hindu way of life in India. Its goal is to promote Hindu nationalism and transform a democratic secular India into a “Hindu Rashtra” (nation). In it, Hindus will be superior, and non-Hindus will be second-class citizens.
Hindutva and Hinduism are different. Hindutva is a narrow-minded and hate-filled violent political ideology; Hinduism is a broad-minded peaceful religious philosophy and tradition. Whereas Hindutva excludes other religions, Hinduism includes all religions.
FASCIST FEATURES IN THE CURRENT BJP-LED CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL HINDUTVA GOVERNMENTS
1. ULTRANATIONALISM
Fascist groups promoted extreme nationalism to unify the country. Hindutva uses extreme nationalism to unify Hindus, who are divided and subdivided into many castes and thousands of subcastes.
Leaders of BJP and Its ideological parent, Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, preach that only Hindus are Indians. Non-Hindus are not Indian.
2. THE SUPREMACY OF ONE RELIGIOUS GROUP
The Fascists believed in the superiority of one race. Hindutva stresses the dominance of Hindus. BJP and RSS leaders teach that Hindus are elder brothers and sisters, and non-Hindus are junior like younger brothers and sisters.
Hindutva also propagates that only Hindus are Indian nationalists. Non-Hindus and those Hindus who do not support the Hindutva ideology are anti-national and “traitors.” Because Mahatma Gandhi did not endorse Hindutva, RSS and BJP leaders call him a “traitor” and revere his killer as a “deshbhakt” (patriot).
3. CONTEMPT FOR DEMOCRACY
Like fascists, the RSS and BJP leaders dislike the democratic system of government. They brutally suppress dissent and treat their political opponents harshly. State agencies - The enforcement directorate, Income Tax, Central Bureau of Investigation, and S.I.T.(Special Investigation Teams) - are used to twist the arms of opposition leaders. Those who disagree to join or assist the BJP governments in the centre and states are arrested on false charges, and a subservient judiciary delays the bail.
At present, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are enduring interrogation and bullying by the Enforcement Directorate.
4. AUTHORITARIAN AND TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT
Fascists insisted on obedience to a strong leader. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that leader. He rules with the help of Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs. Shah is in-charge of India’s internal security. Anyone who opposes or challenges them faces the iron fist of the state machinery. India has an undeclared emergency rule.
5. DEMAGOGIC APPROACH
Fascists used a forceful demagogic technique to seek support. They promoted racial prejudice and hatred. Similarly, RSS and BJP leaders appeal to religious intolerance and hatred to gain popular support.
6. FASCISTS ATTACKED JEWS - HINDUTVA SUPPORTERS INDULGE IN BARBARIC VIOLENCE AGAINST MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
Fascists blamed others -like Jews, Freemasons, and Marxists-for the problems of their nations and suppressed them. RSS and BJP leaders and their supporters make false allegations against Muslims and Christians and repress them. The BJP governments grant immunity to leaders and instigators of mob violence and terrorism against Muslims and Christians.
Muslims have been savaged by lynchings, targeted murders, custodial killings, fake police “encounters,” and imprisonment under false pretexts. Emboldened by the bulldozing of Muslim homes and businesses and the insult of the Prophet, many Hindutva leaders are now threatening Muslims with genocide.
BJP and RSS activists use anti-conversion laws as an excuse to attack Christians. New Delhi-based United Christian Forum recorded at least 486 cases of violence against Christians in 2021. In only 34 of the 486 cases, police registered formal complaints.
Religious freedom does not exist in India anymore.
7. SUBORDINATION OF JUDICIARY AND DENIAL OF JUSTICE
Judiciary, from the lowest level to the Supreme Court, exists only to serve the BJP governments. While the victimizers of Muslims and Christians get immediate bail, the victims are denied bail and sent to jail. All political, media, and other critics of the BJP governments face the same fate. There is no place where victims of BJP governments can go to seek justice.
8. SUPPRESSION OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION
Fascist nations suppressed liberty of thought and expression. Similarly, the BJP government has eliminated freedom of speech and expression. Media owners, like the political opponents, have been bought or silenced with the help of the state agencies.
Idi Amin Dada once said, “There is freedom of speech, but we cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” Today BJP rulers are following the same policy.
The BJP regime also uses supportive media consisting of about 400 TV channels, countless websites, and newspapers to boost bigotry and hatred.
INDIA NEEDS 'KRANTIVEERS' (REVOLUTIONARIES) TO SAVE DEMOCRACY AND INDIA
All fascist and neo-fascist regimes end. BJP's Hindutva fascist rule will also end one day. A substantial number of Indians, including Hindus, believe that BJP governments, RSS, and its affiliates are destroying the unity and integrity of India by dividing this multifaith nation on religious lines. Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of Parliament, is one such Hindu.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Moitra appealed to Indians, "You cannot choose the time of battle. The bugle has sounded – citizens of our republic need to fight now, no matter what your personal and professional circumstances are." She further asked, "What kind of India do we want? What is our idea of India that we are willing to stand up for, fight for, be abused for, get jailed for?" Hopefully, India has an army of ‘krantiveers’ to save democracy and save India.
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