New Delhi: Even as the debate over the implications of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, especially in the context of the rise of Islamic fundamentalist ideology, continues across the world, a number of publications backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have published hard-hitting editorials reminding Indians about the adverse impact of the radical and fundamentalist streaks in Islam.
The publications have also raised questions about the silence as well as the support of a section of ‘progressive brigade’ to the Taliban’s acts, especially violation of women’s rights.
Interestingly, almost all editorials have cautioned that the situation is quite delicate for India and hence no knee-jerk reaction is required. They have also appreciated the way the Narendra Modi government has handled this crisis so far, especially in the context of protecting India’s interests in such a chaotic situation.
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What the editorials say
The latest issue of Panchjanya, a Hindi weekly which is considered to be one of the flagship publications backed by the RSS, published a detailed signed editorial by its Chief Editor Hitesh Shankar.
The editorial said: “There is an atmosphere of chaos and disillusionment in Afghanistan. The Taliban are raining bullets on the fleeing people. Women are suffering, children are being separated from their loved ones, they are being killed. The Taliban have curtailed the freedoms Afghans have enjoyed so far by announcing the implementation of Sharia law. …Overall the situation is terrible.”
It further said: “There has also been an Islamic slap on the face of the progressive brigade… they seem to have forgotten about ‘progressiveness and human rights now’!”
Hosa Digantha, a Kannada language publication, in its editorial wrote: “Secular parties and Maoists do not question the Taliban’s Islamic cruelty. There is also an attempt to glorify the militants as the Taliban hold Afghanistan’s political helm. Some newspapers have portrayed Taliban militants as Taliban ‘warriors’, and that the cruel acts perpetrated by Taliban in acquiring the state as being non-violent! Surprisingly, no one bothered to talk about the vandalism and atrocities committed by Islamic militants.”
It further said, “This is part of the conspiracy to legalize a terrorist organisation. Indian intellectuals talking about far-off Israel do not condemn nor talk about the nearby Taliban in Afghanistan. The silence of those who talk about everything but Taliban, is astonishing. We need to know about this silence. What may happen if India’s Maoists and Congress and JDS challenge or criticise the Taliban?”
“The founder of the Taliban is an Indian Muslim. The Congress and friends did not even mention the fact that the Deoband ideology pursued by the Taliban originated in Uttar Pradesh. What can be a greater let down than to see that for mere Vote bank purposes, democracy is pushed into a situation where terrorism cannot be even condemned!,” the editorial added.
In its editorial, Janmabhumi, a Kerala-based Malayalam language publication, wrote: “Pakistan and China are the forces behind the new surge of Taliban. Both China and Pakistan would be thinking that they can use this terror outfit to target India. Indian leadership is fully aware of the developments, and it is sure that they will not remain mute spectators to these developments.”
Swadesh, a Gwalior-based Hindi daily which has eight editions and is widely circulated amongst the RSS cadres, wrote in its editorial, “There is deadpan silence as the so called Progressives in India are silent about atrocities committed by Taliban in Afghanistan.”
It further added, “This silence is an outcome of the inner contradictions of the so-called progressive brigade. If they would support Taliban, that would be seen as support to the terror activities because as soon as the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan, it released dreaded terrorists from the prison who would now spread terrorism across the world.”
Organiser, the English weekly from New Delhi, which has had prestigious editors like L.K. Advani and K.R. Malkani in the past, has given extensive coverage to the Afghanistan crisis, especially in its web edition, highlighting the fact that an All India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has praised the Taliban.
The report titled ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Hind shows true colour; showers praise on Islamist Taliban’, says: “The President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Syed Sadatullah Husaini showered praise on Islamist Taliban and said that the Taliban capturing of power will ‘restore peace and order in the region and help to reinstate the rights of the Afghan people.’
It further said that “while glorifying the Jihadis, the JIH President said, “20 years ago, the overthrow of the Afghan government through military action, the brutal atrocities on innocent civilians by colonial and imperialist forces, the series of bombings and raids on its cities and the constant attempts to impose the will of foreign powers on the Afghan people is a reprehensible chapter of recent history. It is gratifying to note that the perseverance and struggle of the Afghan people resulted in the withdrawal of the imperialist forces from their country.”
The writer is a research director at RSS-linked think-tank Vichar Vinimay Kendra. Views expressed are personal.
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