Rise of Violent Extremism in India, Kashmir and Implications for Pakistan

Abstract

Rashtriya Swamysavek Sangh, commonly known as RSS, is a Hindu volunteer
organization with its branches and millions of members in entire country. Its violent
extremist approach and ideologyis an emerging major challenge not only within India
but is likely to affect some of its neighbors as well. RSS with number of affiliated
organizations like Viswanathan Hindu Prasad (VHP), Bajrangdal, Shiv Sena and
Bhartia Janta Party (BJP) are stretching its muscles to discipline Muslims and
Christians minorities. All these organizations are collaborating and working for a
majority Hindu nation state with no place for minorities, either they have to convert
to Hinduism or leave the country. Indian Citizenship amendment bill2019(ICA, 2019)
is an effort to encourage Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, and Parsi from neighboring
Muslim countries to opt for Indian citizenship less Muslims. National Registration
Citizenship (NRC, 2019) is another effort to push out minorities mostly Muslims and
Christians either for conversions, staying in detention camps or leaving India. A list
confirming citizenship issued on August 31, 2019 has left 1.9 million, mostly Muslim
as non-citizen in Assam. Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi
has been a staunch follower of the ideology of Hindutva advocated byM.S. Golwalker
(Pilai, 2017) and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (Veer Savarkar Bio, 2019) in their
books on Hinduness. Both Golwalker and Veer Savarkar are considered actual brains
behind entire philosophy of Hinduism. Mr. Modi joined RSS in 1970 and has
gradually risen in ranks thus deeply indoctrinated with Hindutva philosophy,
dominance of majority Hindu and reversion to Hinduism by Muslims and Christians.
Revoking of article 370 and 35 A by the BJP government has long been on its agenda.
By dividing and making sole largest Muslim state as part of Union territory is being
taken as great Hindu victory and revenge of so many years of Muslims rule.
This article shall make an attempt to provide insight, understand the nature of
contemporary challenges of rising violent extremism, revoking of article 370, locking
down of Jammu and Kashmir, it intended aims and objectives, manipulation of governance and political arena, spreading of hate, intolerance, bigotry in a wrap
agenda of Hindu nationalism. Article will review its impact and implication for
Pakistan and a way forward.