Cong coined ‘Hindu terror' theory to target RSS & Vichar Parivar: Fadnavis

Time of India

4 days ago

Nagpur: CM
Devendra Fadnavis
on Friday alleged that the "Hindu terror" narrative was a politically motivated conspiracy crafted by the Congress-led UPA govt in 2008 to malign Hindutva organisations, particularly the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) and its Vichar Parivar affiliates and build a false equivalence to 'Islamic terrorism', a term coined globally at that time.
He said the Malegaon blast case acquittals busted what he called as a "Cong-fabricated plot.
"
"The Congress and UPA govt coined the terms 'Hindu terrorism' and 'saffron terror' to deliberately target Hindutva organisations," Fadnavis said, a day after a trial court acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts. He was addressing media on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new administrative building and foundation of new hostel complexes of Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University's new campus in Waranga near Wardha road.
The CM was reacting to both the verdict and former Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) officer Mehboob Mujawar's claim, who recently alleged that he was pressured by superiors to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as part of the investigation in an effort aimed at reinforcing the saffron terror narrative, he said.
"From the early 1990s to early 2000s, the world was grappling with Islamic terrorism, with links pointing at Pakistan.
The United States, Europe, and India all faced deadly terror strikes. Instead of confronting reality, the Cong sought to please its vote bank (with fabricated narrative)," Fadnavis alleged.
He said that the attempt to brand Hindu organisations as terror outfits was not backed by any concrete evidence. "Many sincere and honest police officers took a stand. They categorically told the political leadership that there was no proof against RSS or Vichar Parivar functionaries.
These officers refused to be part of any unlawful activity, which ultimately prevented the misuse of law enforcement agencies," he said.
Fadnavis asserted that the fabricated narrative was a "deep-rooted conspiracy" to ban Hindutva organisations by projecting them as extremist forces. "This wasn't just about one case. The objective was to systematically defame nationalist organisations like the RSS. But now that the Malegaon verdict is out, truth is beginning to surface.
More voices will emerge to expose what actually happened behind the scenes," he said.
Targeting senior Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan, Fadnavis remarked, "Today, he talks about saffron as the sacred colour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. But he was in the PMO under PM Manmohan Singh when the same colour was being painted as a symbol of terror. Why didn't he oppose it then?"
The CM emphasised that bhagwa (saffron), Hindu identity and Sanatan dharma are not separate entities. "They are inspired by the same source — nationalism and civilisational pride. There is no distinction between them. These are not fringe ideas but central to our cultural identity," he said.