Bajrang Dal

The Bajrang Dal ( _hi. बजरंग दल), a Hindu militant organization cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Bajrang_Dal_The_militant_face_of_the_saffron_family/articleshow/3542674.cms|title="Bajrang Dal: The militant face of the saffron family?"|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2008-09-30] cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1166055.stm|title="Militant Hindu Valentine threat"|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2001-02-12] in India, is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and is based on the ideology of Hindutva. cite book
author= Chetan Bhatt
title= Hindu Nationalism: Origins, Ideologies and Modern Myths
publisher= Berg Publishers
location=
year= 2001
pages= p199
isbn= 9781859733486
oclc=
doi=] [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090750160100.htm Cracking down on ‘violations of moral code’ in Dakshina Kannada] "The Hindu"] Founded on October 1 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, India, it has since spread throughout India. The group claims to have 1,300,000 members,Fact|date=June 2008 of whom 850,000 are workers, and runs about 2,500 akhadas (similar to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's shakhas). "Bajrang" is in reference to the Hindu deity Hanumān.

The Bajrang Dal's slogan is 'sevā surakṣā sanskṛti' or "service, safety, and culture." An integral part of its agenda is preventing the slaughter of cows, which is enshrined in Article 48 of Indian Constitution [ [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/in00000_.html Art.48] ] . One of the Dal's goals is to build the Ramjanmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, the Krishnajanmabhoomi temple in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Kashi (Varanasi), which are currently disputed places of worship. Other goals include protecting India's Hindu identity from the perceived dangers of communism, Muslim demographic growth and Christian conversion. The Bajrang Dal is described as a militant organization by several academics.cite book
author=Christiane Brosius
title=Empowering Visions: The Politics of Representation in Hindu Nationalism
publisher=Anthem Press
location=
year=2005
pages=p105
isbn=1843311348
oclc=
doi=] cite book
author=Christophe Jaffrelot
title=The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics: 1925 to the 1990s
publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers
location=
year=1996
pages=p363
isbn=1850651701
oclc=
doi=] [Cite book
publisher = Stanford University Press
pages = 212
last = Alagappa
first = Muthiah
title = Civil Society and Political Change in Asia: Expanding and Contracting
year = 2004] cite book
author= Prema A. Kurien
title= A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism
publisher= Rutgers University Press
location=
year= 2007
pages= p152
isbn= 0813540569
oclc=
doi=] cite book
author= Amitai Etzioni
title= Security First: For a Muscular, Moral Foreign Policy
publisher= Yale University Press
location=
year= 2007
pages= p123
isbn= 0300108575
oclc=
doi=]

Origin

In October 1984, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) initiated the practice of regular processions to be held in Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh. These processions were called "Ram-Janaki Rathayatra" and were aimed at "awakening the society." While the VHP did not officially claim any anti-religion drivers for this practice, many sections of the society in India viewed this as a pro-Hindu movement. As a result, there was an environment of communal tension and threat surrounding this procession. Under these circumstances, 'holy saints' (members of VHP) called upon the youth to protect the procession, thus the Bajrang Dal was formed. Eventually, most of the members of Bajrang Dal have come to be very proud of the group and the group now has members outside of Uttar Pradesh as well.

Ideology and Agenda

Among the goals of the Bajrang Dal in modern India is a reversing of the invasions by Muslim conquerors and British imperialism. They include demands to convert historical monuments currently disputed into temples. [ [http://hinduunity.org/aboutus.html From the website of the Bajrang Dal] ] . The Bajrang Dal asserts on its website that they are neither communal or divisive. In particular, they say [ [http://www.hinduunity.org/bajrangdal.html Declaration from the website of the Bajrang Dal] ]

"The Bajrang Dal is not against any religion. It acknowledges respecting the faith of other people, but expects and asserts for a similar respect of the Hindu Sentiments. Being Hindu, the Bajrang Dal believes in validity of All Religions and Respect for all human beings, irrespective of caste, color, and religion (Aatmasvat Sarva Bhuteshu). It is for this purpose that the Bajrang Dal has undertaken various public-awakening campaigns. It does not believe in violence or any unlawful activity."

In addition, Bajrang Dal said they would circulate five million handbills, giving details about the activities of Christian missionaries. Bajrang Dal national convenor Surendra Kumar Jain today said the outfit would peacefully expose what he described as questionable means adopted by some Christian bodies toconvert poor people under a world evangelical plan that specially targeted Hindu-majority India [http://www.media-watch.org/articles/0299/224.html Media Watch] ] .

Bajrang Dal, together with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has spoken out against Islamic Terrorism in India and have announced that they will carry out awareness campaigns across the nation. They have stated that Islamic terrorists are hiding among the general population in India and mean to expose them [ [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct312006/district17225420061030.asp Terror:VHP plans awareness jatha] ,"Deccan Herald"] .Bajrang Dal convener Prakash Sharma stressed that they were not targeting any particular community, but were trying to "wake up" the people of India, particularly the youth, to the dangers of terrorism in the light of the 2002 Akshardham Temple attack perpetrated by terrorist linked to the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021021/ldh1.htm#6 Bajrang Dal launches campaign] ,"The Tribune"] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Three get death for Akshardham attack |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1696455,prtpage-1.cms |work=Times of India |publisher= |date= 2006-06-02 |accessdate=2008-08-04 ] . Bajrang Dal also share VHP's position against the slaughter of cows (regarded as sacred by many Hindus) and have supported proposed bans on bovine slaughter. [ [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr192005/district1941312005418.asp Cow slaughter: Bajrang Dal dubs Forum’s stand anti-Hindu] ,"Deccan Herald"] .

The Gujrat Bajrang Dal is at the forefront of the anti-beauty contest agitation. Another of its objective is preventing Hindu-Muslim marriages. [ [http://www.india-today.com/itoday/08021999/cover3.html BAJRANG DALLoonies at Large] ]

Controversies

* According to the Human Rights Watch, Bajrang Dal had been involved in riots against Muslims in the 2002 Gujarat violence [ [http://hrw.org/reports/2002/india/ State Participation and Complicity in Communal Violence in Gujarat] Humean Rights Watch - June 2002] .
* In April 2006, two Bajrang Dal activists were killed in nearby Nanded in the process of bomb making. The same group of activists were also suspected for perpetrating the 2003 Parbhani mosque blasts. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/09/stories/2006090907431100.htm Malegaon the road to perdition] ,"The Hindu"] . Those arrested later told interrogators they wanted to avenge several blasts across the country. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1971372.cms] Malegaon blasts: Is it Bajrang or Lashkar?] NDTV subsequently accused the police of a coverup in Nandhed [ [http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?id=93414&frmsrch=1&txtsrch=nanded Police cover up Nanded blast] ,"NDTV.com".] A report by the Secular Citizen's Forum & PUCL, Nagpur claimed to have found maps of mosques at the home of one of the deceased. [ [http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Religion-communalism/2006/nanded.htm A report on bomb blast at the house of prominent RSS activist in Nanded, Maharashtra] ,"pucl.org"]
* The VHP leader, Praveen Togadia, was arrested in April 2003 after distributing tridents to Bajrang Dal activists in Ajmer defying ban and prohibitory orders. Togadia asserted that the coming Assembly polls in the Indian state of Rajasthan would be fought on the issue of tridents and attacked the ruling Congress Party for "placating" Muslims for electoral gains. He expressed satisfaction at the publicity received due to the incident [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/04/14/stories/2003041404280100.htm Togadia defies ban, distributes tridents] ,"The Hindu"] .
* The Bajrang Dal has been accused of not allowing Muslims to own land in parts of Gujarat by attacking traders who sell to Muslims and by attacking Muslim homes and forcing the sale of the house or flat. This creates a ghettoisation of large cities in Gujarat, like Ahmedabad and Vadodara. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2106/stories/20040326004301700.htm Organised intolerance ] ]
*On several occasions, acting as "Social Police" the activists of Bajrang Dal have caught un-married couples on Valentines day and forced them to apply sindoor or tie rakhis against their wishes. The activists of Bajrang Dal have often indulged in violence, invading gift shops and restaurants and threatening couples on Valentines day [Valentines day] . [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2783653.cms] [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/14vday.htm] [http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/15/stories/2008021553680500.htm] ]
*The Bajrang Dal has also been involved in bombmaking accidents on August 6, 2006 in Nanded [ [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1052080 Security agencies pursue Bajrang Dal, Bangla links to Malegaon] DNAIndia - September 6, 2006] , and on August 24, 2008 in Kanpur [ [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/354326.html Bajrang Dal plotted ‘revenge blasts’ in Kanpur: UP police] Indian Express - August 28, 2008] .
*In September 2008, a fresh wave of attacks directed against the Christian churches and prayer halls in Karnataka by the Bajrang Dal, with the help of ruling BJP government accused of involvement. Later, Mahendra Kumar, the convener of Bajrang Dal was arrested in connection with it, after the Center had strongly criticized the state Government. In addition, the National Commission for Minorities has also blamed them for the religious violence in BJP-ruled states of Karnataka and Orissa. [ [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Christians_Sangh_Parivars_new_target/articleshow/3505720.cms Christians: The Sangh Parivar's new target] The Economic Times - September 20, 2008] . However, some police reports claim that the Bajrang Dal was not involved "per se" and that the attacks were carried out by splinter groups. However, testimonies of Bajrang Dal activists show exactly the opposite, as they described the attacks and openly warned of more violence. [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066428 BJP, Dal talk in two voices over Karnataka] NDTV - September 23, 2008] .

Criticism

The United States Department of State's annual report on international religious freedom for 2000 and World Report (2000) by the Human Rights Watch labeled this organization as a Hindu extremist group.cite book
author= Barbara Larkin
title= Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2000
publisher=
location=
year=
pages= p508
isbn= 0756712297
oclc=
doi=] cite book
author=
title= Human Rights Watch World Report 2000
publisher= Human Rights Watch
location=
year=
pages= p188
isbn= 1564322386
oclc=
doi=] Paul R. Brass, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and South Asian Studies at the University of Washington, described the Bajrang Dal as Indian equivalent of Nazi Germany's Sturmabteilung.cite book
author= Paul R. Brass
title= Theft of an Idol: Text and Context in the Representation of Collective Violence
publisher= Princeton University Press
location=
year= 1997
pages= p17
isbn= 0691026505
oclc=
doi=]

Bajrang Dal has also received criticism from moderate Hindu Nationalist organizations such as the Hindu Mahasabha. Bajrang Dal has been criticized for adopting the same violent methods as the Islamic Fundamentalists in their attempt to curb the spread of Islamic terrorism, a move deemed by the Mahasabha to be counterproductive [ [http://hindutva.org/bajrang.html Bajarangis - Do not become Hindu Jihadis] ,"hindutva.org"] . In addition, the Bharatiya Janata Party member and former prime minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee have also come out in criticism of Bajrang Dal. Vajpayee said that the Bajrang Dal "only embarrassed the BJP" and urged the Sangh Parivar to "rein them in" [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020429/nation.htm#1 Rein in Parivar outfits, PM tells RSS] ,"The Tribune"] . After the Religious violence in Orissa, the Bharatiya Janata Party [Prime Minister of India|Prime Ministerial] candidate L. K. Advani advised the Bajrang Dal to cease association with violence, concerned with the fact that it took pressure off the UPA government in Delhi [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081004/jsp/nation/story_9926821.jsp Bajrang deaf to BJP sermon] The Telegraph, Calcutta - October 3, 2008]

Demand for ban

*In September 2008, the Indian National Congress (INC) demanded a ban on the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) which according to the INC are involved in anti-national activities. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said "White paper should be brought out not only against SIMI but all organisations involved in anti-national activities like Bajrang Dal and VHP". [ [http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=466509&sid=NAT Cong demands white paper on Bajrang Dal, VHP] ] Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said, "Those outfits involved in terrorist activity should be investigated, the question is why Bajrang Dal should not be banned". [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Congress_demands_ban_on_Bajrang_Dal/articleshow/3423922.cms Congress demands ban on Bajrang Dal] ] Muslim cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli, who is involved in the "Movement Against Terrorism", also demanded a ban on this organization in the wake of the Kanpur blast. [ [http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Muslim-cleric-demands-ban-on-Bajrang-Dal/353369/ Muslim cleric demands ban on Bajrang Dal] ]

*A TADA court awarded 20 years imprisonment to former Gujarat fisheries minister Mohammad Surti and four others in the 1993 Surat blasts case."'

*The monthly magazine "Communalism Combat" started by civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad demanded an immediate ban on the Bajrang Dal in August 2008. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083061311300.htm Call for immediate ban on Bajrang Dal, VHP] ] Leader of the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) Ramchandra Paswan describing the Bajrang Dal as communal organization said, "Bajrang Dal and VHP should immediately be banned." [ [http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=466488&sid=REG LJP demands ban on Bajrang Dal, VHP] ]

*The Indian National Congress, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati have demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sena. In this regard, Deve Gowda sent a letter to prime minister and accused Bajrang Dal "for perpetrating senseless violence" against minorities in Karnataka and Orissa. [ [http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=223444 Gowda, Maya demand ban on Bajrang Dal] The Times of India, September 22, 2008] [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/20/stories/2008092055961300.htm Paswan seeks ban on Bajrang Dal, VHP] The Hindu, September 20, 2008] [ [http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14762651 Congress seeks ban on VHP, Bajrang Dal] Sify News, September 20, 2008]

*On 5 October 2008, the National Commission for Minorities has recommended a ban on the Bajrang Dal and VHP for its alleged role in the attacks on Christian institutions in Karnataka. [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/ban-bajrang-dal-says-national-minorities-panel/75102-3.html Ban Bajrang Dal, says national minorities panel] CNN-IBN, October 6, 2008]

*On 5 October 2008, the Indian Prime Minister has decided to call a special cabinet meeting to discuss a possible ban on the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad over the continuing attacks on Christians and its institutions in Orissa and Karnataka. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081005/jsp/nation/story_9930126.jsp Cabinet to discuss Bajrang, VHP ban] The Telegraph ] .

List of presidents

*Vinay Katiyar
*Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya
*Dr. Surendra Jain

ee also

*Rohit Vyasmaan

References

External links

* [http://www.bajrangdal.org Official Bajrang Dal website]
* [http://hrw.org/reports/2002/india/ Report of Human Rights Watch referring to the role of Bajrang Dal in Gujarat 2002 Riots]