Hindu Terrorists found! Can we please hang Afzal now?

Had it not been for the American elections, the media would be abuzz with minute by minute details on the Hindu terrorism case in which almost half a dozen people (including a Hindu Sadhvi and senior army personnel) have been arrested so far. A google search reveals the frantic reporting and painstakingly written reports that are crying out for space on the headlines. A google news search on Hindu Terrorist reveals the great deal of attention this is getting on the media from Islamic countries.

There is nothing objectionable with the term Hindu Terrorist. There is a reason terrorism is treated differently from ordinary crimes. There is a strong reason to attach the ideology that causes it. The case of the Sadhvi finds its roots in the same sort of ideology that causes minorities to blow up innocent people. As the recent case of the Software Engineer (19 Lakhs per annum salary) proves, poverty etc. leading to terrorism is largely a mythical construct.

There are several things that stand out in this case.

First, there is the deafening silence from the so called Human Rights activists. We have to give them time to digest the other important news and get back to regular programming but don't hold your breath for Arundhati Roy to appear on Devil's Advocate and punch holes on the case based on conflicting media reports. No demands for a judicial inquiry either.

Second, the police have acted in pretty much the same manner in which the prior cases were dealt with - at least the recent ones. The measures included confinement, interrogation , narco analysis and forensic tests, wiretapping, cross referencing witnesses etc. There might have been some third degree involved - no loss of limb or life (except the Delhi encounter case, but a cop died too).

Given that the current course of action is yielding some success, it should be continued. Alas, if only the world was so simple.

For one thing we are dealing with a community that has a very unique way of looking at things. At least two thirds of the community globally if not more believe that 9/11 was a Jewish conspiracy. There is already demands for opening up past blast cases, even solved ones. The Shahi Imam has made statements to the effect that no Government is taking care of the community. The community leaders in Assam are all set to form a new party, riding on the sizable and growing population.

In a sense this was inevitable. Once propaganda takes root, it is hard to temper it or throttle its momentum. Clearly over the decades there has been a conscious attempt to channel real or imaginary minority discontent towards a certain political goal. Ideally the activists and secularists would want it to stop right after defeating BJP. Right about now there is no going back. The secular propaganda way overshot its original target and there is widespread discontent that does not necessarily distinguish a secular Hindu and a communal Hindu. The anger is now targeted at India Inc. as a whole. As an example, the recent IM emails excoriated the Maharashtra CM and even lashed out at Tehelka.

You can not wave the red flag of freedom and then take it away at the last moment. This beast will break through everything. The case of the Hindu Terrorist, even if dealt with a strong hand will produce the exact opposite of the intended effect.