RSS an anti-national organization in India, Irfan Habib says
Eram Agha
"RSS has been an anti-national organization in India," said Historian Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University. He spoke to TOI regarding the Jawaharlal Nehru University row, where on February 13, the JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition, and his speech was called "anti-national" at the event organized by a group of students to mark the third anniversary of terror convict Afzal Guru's hanging.
Speaking on "anti-national" charge, Habib first explained nationalism, he said, "Nation is not simply a territory. It comprises of people. And nationalism means pursuing the interest of people of that territory. Those who incite violence against any section of that population are committing anti-national activity. That is exactly what RSS has been doing - RSS has been an anti-national organization in India."
He further cited from his past lecture "Building the idea of India" and added, "The RSS was founded in 1925 one should ask them, what did you do for 22 years (till 1947)? Why didn't you join the National Movement and go to prison? Why don't you do something against the British if you are such a great patriot? Hindu Mahasabha and RSS have the same psychological problem. Ask the same questions to Hindu Mahasabha - 'why didn't you join the national movement?' Savarkar in the Andaman gave an apology thus washing away his whole patriotic past. He only opposed the Muslims propounding a two-nation theory even before Muhammad Ali Jinnah."
The government crackdown has been widely criticized by opposition parties and academics across the world, Habib added that in the case of JNU, there are two things, "One is the allegation of 'anti-national' remarks, and criticism of the government cannot be termed as anti-national. Second is the presence of police. If an offence was committed, couldn't you draw the attention of JNU rather than calling the police? Calling police is not an over-reaction but a conspiracy. Home Minister Rajnath Singh cited Hafiz Saeed... It is pernicious. This regime has three weapons - hooliganism, police and propaganda. There is an attempt to suppress criticism of BJP in the universities."
While criticizing the statement coming from BJP leaders like Amit Shah, who said "BJP will not tolerate this," Habib said, "But BJP is not India. So who are they to say 'what to tolerate and what not to tolerate?"
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/RSS-an-anti-national-organization-in-India-Irfan-Habib-says/articleshow/51012488.cms?from=mdr
"RSS has been an anti-national organization in India," said Historian Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University. He spoke to TOI regarding the Jawaharlal Nehru University row, where on February 13, the JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition, and his speech was called "anti-national" at the event organized by a group of students to mark the third anniversary of terror convict Afzal Guru's hanging.
Speaking on "anti-national" charge, Habib first explained nationalism, he said, "Nation is not simply a territory. It comprises of people. And nationalism means pursuing the interest of people of that territory. Those who incite violence against any section of that population are committing anti-national activity. That is exactly what RSS has been doing - RSS has been an anti-national organization in India."
He further cited from his past lecture "Building the idea of India" and added, "The RSS was founded in 1925 one should ask them, what did you do for 22 years (till 1947)? Why didn't you join the National Movement and go to prison? Why don't you do something against the British if you are such a great patriot? Hindu Mahasabha and RSS have the same psychological problem. Ask the same questions to Hindu Mahasabha - 'why didn't you join the national movement?' Savarkar in the Andaman gave an apology thus washing away his whole patriotic past. He only opposed the Muslims propounding a two-nation theory even before Muhammad Ali Jinnah."
The government crackdown has been widely criticized by opposition parties and academics across the world, Habib added that in the case of JNU, there are two things, "One is the allegation of 'anti-national' remarks, and criticism of the government cannot be termed as anti-national. Second is the presence of police. If an offence was committed, couldn't you draw the attention of JNU rather than calling the police? Calling police is not an over-reaction but a conspiracy. Home Minister Rajnath Singh cited Hafiz Saeed... It is pernicious. This regime has three weapons - hooliganism, police and propaganda. There is an attempt to suppress criticism of BJP in the universities."
While criticizing the statement coming from BJP leaders like Amit Shah, who said "BJP will not tolerate this," Habib said, "But BJP is not India. So who are they to say 'what to tolerate and what not to tolerate?"
--
=-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/RSS-an-anti-national-organization-in-India-Irfan-Habib-says/articleshow/51012488.cms?from=mdr
posted by Satish Sharma at
14:15
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