BJP, RSS back Hindu Jagran Manch, allege conspiracy

On a day when various non-BJP parties demanded action against the Hindu Jagran Manch and other Hindutva organisations alleged to have a hand in the Malegaon blasts...

On a day when various non-BJP parties demanded action against the Hindu Jagran Manch and other Hindutva organisations alleged to have a hand in the Malegaon blasts, the BJP slammed the “non-BJP forces” for “dragging the name of nationalist organisations in the terror attack” while the RSS smelt a “political conspiracy” in the whole episode.

BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar alleged that politics was behind the allegations and demanded a CBI inquiry into the episode. “This is an old case. It’s only due to the approaching elections that such allegations are being levelled. Let the accused be arrested, and let there be a CBI inquiry into the whole episode,” said Katiyar.

The RSS, on the other hand, said there was a “conspiracy to malign Hindu organisations”. “The charges against Hindu organstions are utterly false and malicious. Violence and blasts must be condemned. But we also condemn the project to malign various Hindu organisations,” said former RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav.

On the alleged involvement of a former ABVP national executive member in the Malegaon blasts, Ram Madhav said: “None of our functionaries will ever be involved in such activities. We want investigating agencies to investigate and punish the culprit.”

Maharashtra BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, on the other hand, saw the hand of the Sharad Pawar-R R Patil duo behind the controversy. “The argument that the RSS, the ABVP and other nationalist orgnaisations could be involved in the blasts is yet another attempt to appease the Muslims. The Congress-NCP combine, especially the Sharad Pawar-R R Patil duo here, have been making attempts to drag the name of nationalist orgnaistions in terror blasts,” he said.

Tawde, who was active in the ABVP before joining the BJP, told The Indian Express: “The Congress and the NCP are ruling both the Centre and Maharashtra. What are they waiting for if they have any proof to establish the role of nationalist organisations’ hand in the blasts?”

In Delhi, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the parties alleging the involvement of Hindu groups in the Malegaon blasts lacked “any credibility whatsoever”. “These are the same parties which have been proudly protecting the SIMI. They have no legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the people,” he said.