India Cannot Fight Terror with Religious Bias

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the Rajya Sabha that “a Hindu can never be a terrorist” is not only factually incorrect but also dangerously divisive in a secular democracy like India. This remark, made during the debate on Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor, disregards well-documented instances of terrorism by Hindu extremists and risks deepening communal polarization.

Equally troubling is the government’s growing practice of naming counter-terrorism operations after Hindu religious symbols. In a country whose Constitution guarantees religious equality, naming operations “Mahadev” and “Sindoor” alienates non-Hindu citizens and signals an exclusionary state identity. Such symbolism is inappropriate in a secular republic.

Shah’s denial flies in the face of historical evidence. The 2017 conviction of Devendra Gupta and Bhavesh Patel in the Ajmer Dargah blast, and the involvement of Hindu extremists in the 2006 and 2008 Malegaon blasts, 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing, and Mecca Masjid blast, are matters of public record. Individuals like Swami Aseemanand and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur—associated with groups such as Abhinav Bharat—were directly implicated. An affidavit by RSS member Yashwant Shinde in 2022 further alleged the organization of bomb-training camps, raising disturbing questions about institutional complicity.

By dismissing these facts, the Home Minister is promoting a politically convenient narrative rather than addressing terrorism in all its forms. This selective denial weakens national security and fosters mistrust among communities.

We urge the government to acknowledge all manifestations of terrorism, irrespective of religion, and to uphold the secular values enshrined in our Constitution. India’s strength lies in its diversity. Any attempt to favor one religious identity over others undermines democratic unity and endangers social harmony. The fight against terrorism must be grounded in truth, transparency, and equal justice.

Elyas Muhammad Thumbe
National General Secretary