Indian activist: Narendra Modi’s candidature in Varanasi an outrage
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The announcement of the
candidacy of Narendra Modi in Varanasi "has once again raised the idea
that Varanasi is the 'cradle ' of the Hindu fundamentalism. This is an insult
to the people of Varanasi and the city itself:
the history of this place belies such propaganda". This
is the reaction of Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General of the People's Vigilance
Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), to the decision of Modi, chief minister of
Gujarat and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Hindu ultra-nationalists) candidate
for prime minister to run for the seat of Varanasi
in the 2014
general elections.
From
a Brahmin family, the human rights activist, who is agnostic and works in
Varanasi, in particular with the Dalits tells AsiaNews "Varanasi has always been steeped in pluralism and
secularism and many people are working to put an end to the caste system and
all forms of religious fundamentalism".
In fact,
the city's history speaks for itself. "This place - says Raghuvanshi - is known
as the city of Shiva, but it has been discussed whether it is the original brahminical
deity, or if the deity was exploited to ensure the spread of Brahmanism. Again
it was here that Buddha gave his first sermon in 528 BC. It is one of the holy
cities of Jainism, and one of the epicenters of the Bhakti movement (a current
dating back to Hindu medieval times very close to Sufi Islam, ed.) guru Nanak
Dev, founder of Sikhism, visited Varanasi in 1507 and was inspired
by the city".
"The
PVCHR is not a political movement - says its general secretary - but we are
against those nationalist forces that use violence". Forces
such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), the paramilitary arm of the BJP, the author of numerous attacks against
ethnic, social and religious India minorities". MS Gowalkar, the founder of the
RSS - he recalls - never hid his esteem for Hitler and Mussolini. He described
India as a 'purely Hindu' nation and considered the Muslims as second class
citizens".
Narendra
Modi was active in the RSS, and is considered responsible for not having put a
stop to the 2002 violence
in Gujarat, the deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims.
"Over
the last few decades - says Raghuvanshi - religious minorities in India have
suffered waves of organized violence, which put our secular democracy in grave
danger. Attacks against Islamic and Christian communities are increasingly used
as a political tool by the Hindu nationalist and fundamentalist forces".
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23/02/2024 19:29
11/03/2022 17:45
