After reports of threats made by the Hindu Extremist party, Shiv Sena, against the Australian cricket team, the Australian government and media are now very concerned about the safety of their players in India. So they should be. This threat was issued in reaction to incidents of random violent attacks against Indian nationals in some Australian cities. While the concern of the Indian government about the safety of its citizens is justified, it should be noted that Shiv Sena or the Army of Lord Shiva, is the same right wing Hindu extremist political party that has over the past years orchestrated violence against minorities in India, intimidated political opponents and carried out a reign of terror and intimidation against anyone who dares to speak against their hate-mongering leader Mr. Bal Thackeray. Hence if Bal Thackeray has issued a threat against the visitors, it is indeed a worrisome development for the international community in terms of the security of their players during the Commonwealth games which are to be held in India this year. There is a long list of heinous acts of violence that have been perpetrated by Hindu extremist parties like Shiv Sena for decades in India.
Apart from a history of genocide against Muslims, more than 2500 Muslims were massacred in 2002 in the Indian state of Gujarat where horrible scenes of arson, mutation and rape were perpetrated by the Hindu extremists against the unarmed Muslims. However, the hatred of the Hindu extremists is not limited towards Muslims; As recently as 2009 there have been violent attacks and alleged “reconversion” of over 1,700 Christians in the week leading up to Christmas by Hindu extremists. Something similar happened in August 2008 when around 600 Christians became victims of violent attacks by Hindu Extremists in Eastern India. It is noteworthy that Shiv Sena, the party that has issued threats against the Australian cricketers, is also one of the main military wings of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu extremist organization that influences the policies of every single political party in India, be it BJP, Congress or any other. In a recent talk show, RSS spokesman Tarun Vijay dubbed Australians as the “most atrocious and horrendous racists on this planet”. It is indeed ‘atrocious’ that this statement came from an organization that leads all the Hindu extremists groups, which are many and are mushrooming into newer and deadlier groups, and adhere to the violent ideology that Hinduism is the only religion and culture acceptable for humanity and that it is perfectly legitimate to use violence as means to achieve their goals. Perhaps, this is the reason why some officials in Australia are already sounding the alarm and casting doubts on Australia’s participation in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Sunshine Coast swimmer Nick D’Arcy alleged that he has been told by Swimming Australia insiders that the 2010 Commonwealth Games may have to be abandoned due to security concerns. Apparently, it’s not just the Aussies who are feeling the heat. England too, is seriously considering pulling out of this year’s Commonwealth Games in India over fears its athletes will be victims of a terrorist attack, only this time the threat is from India’s home-grown Hindu fanatics.
This threat also puts the thousands of Australian and other foreign professionals currently working or residing in India in a very risky position, for it is likely that in such a situation they might be targeted by this politically and ideologically motivated bunch of Hindutva activists. A recent cartoon, likening the Victorian police with the Ku Klux Klan shows the extremes to which the Indian media has gone to portray the incidents in Australia in a racial light. Therefore, a little urging from the likes of Bal Thackeray will be enough to set off mobs of inflamed and angry right wing militants seeking ‘revenge’ on the visitors. The extent of this concern can be determined by the reports that the Australian athletes participating in the Commonwealth games, if (and that is a big If) they are held in India at all, will be accompanied by members of the Australian Federal Police. If this happens, it will be a complete embarrassment for the Indian government as it would be a clear indication that it is entirely incapacitated and helpless before the right wing Hindu extremists.
The international community should perhaps seriously weigh in on the options that they have in terms of holding the Commonwealth games in another country as the simmering tensions between India and Australia, especially in view of the threats issued by Shiv Sena set a dangerous precedent for all those attending the games. Adding to this threat is the havoc that Maoist rebels are creating inside India along with several other separatist movements by rebel groups in the North East. The country is fast turning into a dangerous cocktail of Right Wing Hindu extremism and unrest among the minorities that have been long-oppressed by the Brahmin ruling elite. It would only be rational and responsible on behalf of all the relevant governments to think twice before sending their athletes to what is fast turning into one of the most dangerous places in the Sub-Continent for non-Hindus
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