Naxalism is the most serious internal security threat: PM Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Nov 23: The venue is the same, the topic is Naxalism, but is the government at the top speaking in different voices?

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday termed Left wing extremism as "the most serious internal security threat", a day after Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that the Naxal situation is being blown out of proportion.

Singh, while addressing the top police brass of the country, said "the threat posed by Left Wing Extremism perhaps the most serious internal security threat that the country face.

"It is evident that despite the efforts that have, and are being made, the measures taken so far have not yielded desired results...the inability of intelligence agencies and the police to obtain pinpointed and actionable intelligence and in time - has enabled these outfits to carry out some high-profile attacks."

The remarks of the Prime Minister came a day after Patil had told the same gathering that the picture of Naxalism in India was not given correctly.

"On occasions, it is said that 10 states in India, nearly 180 districts in states, are affected. It means that one third of the country is affected. If one village in a district is affected, it is treated that one district is affected. It does not mean that all the villages in that district are affected.

"If one or two districts of a state are affected, it does not mean that all districts in the state are affected," the Home Minister had said.

Bureau Report

Your comment(s) on this article

With the public announcement that Naxalism is the most serious internal security threat, Mr Manmohan Singh has completed UPA government`s favour to the Muslims, which started with communal budgeting for Muslims Now he can reap Muslim votes in the next general elections -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Malegaon blast probe: RSS denies Indresh’s links with ISI

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi, Nov 22: In a bid to come clean on the issue of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) alleged links with Malegaon blast, the Hindu organisation on Saturday said that its senior leader Indresh Kumar does not have any link with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as alleged by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS).

Related Stories

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, RSS joint general secretary Madan Das Devi described Indresh as dedicated worker of the organisation. He further said that RSS members denounce violence.

Notably, ATS sources had previously leaked information that Lt Col Shrikant Purohit, the prime accused in the Malegaon blast case, allegedly conspired to kill two leading RSS activists -- Indresh and general secretary Mohan Bhagwat -- for not being harsh on Muslims and for not undertaking enough efforts to advance the cause of Hindutva. The investigations also revealed that Purohit suspected the RSS duo of having been bought over by the ISI.

The RSS spokesman said that the ‘condemnable’ act of linking Indresh with ISI was just a conspiracy to malign the organisation. He further rebuffed the reports that RSS leaders were on the target of the Malegaon blasts accused. And even if they were on the hit list, the government should provide security to the RSS leaders, he added.

Questioning the role of ATS, he hit out at the investigative team for leaking controversial findings. He claimed that politicians were taking ‘political mileage’ out of the issues, urging the leaders not to play with the country’s integrity, security, and law and order.

Expressing anger over the UPA government’s failure to tackle militancy, the RSS spokesman advised the leaders not to nomenclature ‘terrorism’ as ‘Hindu terrorism’. He claimed that the government’s agendum behind classifying the word ‘Hindu terrorism’ was just to hide its own futility to prevent this heinous activity.

Indresh manages the Rashtriya Muslim Manch, an RSS forum for Muslims.

Your comment(s) on this article

Terrorism is terrorism, but terrorists are inspired by all sorts of ideologies, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Communist etc As far as India is concerned, Muslim and Communist (Naxalite) terrorists are the major players, with the Hindu terrorist being a late entrant Christian terrorists have had their day in the North East and, having largely achieved their objectives, are quite Hindu terrorism is the direct outcome of the UPA government`s mollycoddling Islamic Jehadis Hindu terrorism will end when Islamic terrorism is taken care of What is the government awaiting for hanging Mohammad Afzal? -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

yes ,time has come now this the same time when religion people ram and his sena come out to fight against ravan and his sena becuase of terrorism activities taht time ,now after sugffering from 60years hindu religion leader came up to support whole country and nation against terrorism -than what is the problem?yes they are terrorist but nationalist first they are doing work to save our future bacause government and politicians not doing anything to curb the terrorism ,everybody should support them -indian -

Why are Hindus objecting to Hindu terrorism? Though there is no Hindu terrorism yet, it`s high time that it comes! It`s about time some Hindu leaders stand up and openly declare that Hindus will now terrorise all those who have been terrorising us for so long When your community is attacked, it`s only coward to say `but we are non-violent` Wjhen your community is attacked, you gave to become enraged, violent and chop off the head of all those attackers! And if it leads to a civil war, the better! Remember that the USA got the U (United) only because of a civil war! -raghuveer -

Why are Hindus objecting to Hindu terrorism? Though there is no Hindu terrorism yet, it`s high time that it comes! It`s about time some Hindu leaders stand up and openly declare that Hindus will now terrorise all those who have been terrorising us for so long When your community is attacked, it`s only coward to say `but we are non-violent` Wjhen your community is attacked, you gave to become enraged, violent and chop off the head of all those attackers! And if it leads to a civil war, the better! Remember that the USA got the U (United) only because of a civil war! -raghuveer -

sam type of people in india spread the haterayed in india if you doesn`t like india than why you are not leaving india?if you want to stay in india than you have to become indian first -sam is stupid guy i think his work is only nafrat failana insano me parantu khud insan nahi nahi,allh ise maf karna ye jis ki thali me khata hai usi me ched kar raha hai,stop stupid things generation will not gforget you type of people -jagrukh -

Sam-samsuddin of pakistani agent Today one side you try to become good to indian muslims and other side making deal with RSS to kill muslims You are No1 enemy of India muslims You ae provoking Indian muslims You are pakistani terrorist stop using Indian news paper for posting your dirty uncooked biryani and mutton curry at this paper Just away from Indian politics You are enemy no1 for indian muslims You cannot be true muslim You are pakistani Mohajir who never got respect in pakistan and now trying to come back India by killing Indian muslims Your ISI gone so far to use RSS You pakistani donot have anything else to do except killing innocent muslims You do blast and complete muslim community get bad name You are friend of UPA -Love India - Delhi

Whatever you may right as per your wish and thought=But the end of the day, this UPA impotent Govt headed by mindless vultures will be defeated=The thing is that, now they are palying very dangerous game against the majority of the people of this nation=Take an example that this govt is appeasing the minorities for there vote bank=What about remaining 85 % hindus in this country=Can they bluff and cheat to all=No at all=Still they are 20-25 % silent hindus, those are watching all these mishappening to hindus in this country=Like me=How can this impotent United Pro Terrrist Alliance (UPA) expect, they can bluff entire nation=All the way they making or manufactering news every day and passing it there medias=For this they have to pay a heavy price in the all 5 states election=I am sure they loose at least 4 states in the forth coming elction=No body can save them from out brust of hindus in these state=Take it as beit=Certainly they are going to loose this crucial election=Then we will see they dance as per our music=Enough is enough=Every day they are manufactering new story particularly about Malegaon, what about remaining issue (assam), Kashmir, migrant Bangldeshi=Sorry UPA -rohan - calcutta

Yeh to samajhne vali baat hai rss,vhp,bajrag dal aur sarey vo neta jo muslamano ko koste hai ISI ke hi agent hai advani ho ya modikyoki jab tak muslim aur christian may unrest nahi hoga vo china ya pakistan ki jasusi agencies ke haath may nahi ayegey isliye -indian - india

THE BOTTOM LINE IS MECCA BLAST MALAGEO BLAST AND SAMAJWADI BLAST DONE WAS BY HINDU MILITANT AND WE HAVE TO BRING THESE CRIMINAL TO JUSTICE HINDU OR MUSLIMS AND IF WE SUPPORT AND BECOME BLIND BECZ OF THE POLITICIAN THEN VERY SOON THERE WILL BE BLAST IN EVER MARKET EVER CORNER -sam -

YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH OTHERWISE REAL KILLERS OF INNOCENT INDIANS WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR SO BE FAIR EVEN IF HE IS FROM YOUR HOME LET LAW DEAL WITH HIM DON’T TAKE SIDE OF TERROIEST THEY KNEW HOW TO KILL THAT’S ALL THEY WONT GIVE ANY GOOD FOR YOU -Mr Dasi - Bharat

ATS confirms Malegaon blast suspects wanted to kill RSS leaders

Zeenews Bureau

Mumbai, Nov 21: In a major twist in the ongoing Malegaon blast probe, the Maharashtra ATS has confirmed newspaper reports on Friday that radical Hindu organisation Ahinav Bharat had planned to kill prominent RSS leaders for not doing much for the Hindutva cause.


The revelation is sure to send shock waves across the pro-Hindutva lobby including the Bhartiya Janata Party, which has so far vociferously supported all those who have come under the scanner in relation with the Malegaon blast case. As per the ATS report that appeared in the media, ATS investigations had brought to light the sinister plans of the rightwing organisation. Members of Abhinav Bharat – Dayanand Pandey, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, S Apte and Lt Col Prasad Purohit - were planning to kill RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and Rashtriya Muslim Manch’s (RSS outfit) senior leader Indraeesh. The report was prepared by the state Home Department which shared it with Union Home Ministry in addition with central intelligence agencies. The plot was unravelled after data from Dayanand Pandey’s laptop was retrieved by ATS after detailed forensic examination. As per the report, the blueprint of the plot is supposed to have been prepared by the 70-year-old RSS worker from Pune S Apte, who was discontented with the functioning of RSS. He was later also joined by retired Major Ramesh Pandey – referred to as ‘Dr Singh’ - who also shared a similar opinion about RSS. Incidentally, Pandey is also a prominent New Delhi based doctor. According to the ATS, both Pandey and Apte approached Lt Col Prasad Purohit seeking his help in executing their plan. As per the ATS, Apte paid Rs 10 lakh to Purohit for the favour. In August, when the group came to knew about Indraneesh and Bhagwat’s Pune visit, Apte did a reckee of various spots in Pune, where the duo could be targeted. Investigations further show that Pandey had even arranged a 9mm foreign made pistol, which was later delivered to one of his close associate in Faridabad.

Your comment(s) on this article

The silly ATS believes this ridiculous story would stop the Sangha Parivar from claiming that the ATS actions are orchestrated by the UPA Government It is high time the Supreme Court intervenes and puts an end to this drama being enacted by ATS on behalf Congress to blunt BJP`s charge of UPA being soft on Islamic terrorism -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

The Height of imagination. I laud Mr Hemant Karkare for his wild imaginations and nothing concrete so far Now The ATS is best suited to write the Thriller Novels which can be a BESTSELLER, They must write the stories for the sensational, thriller episodes of BALAJI TELEFILMS (Ekta Kapoor) This will earn more revenue to the Maharashtra Police -Pallavi - Juhu Beach

Malegaon blast accused to be charged under MCOCA

Zeenews Bureau

Mumbai, Nov 20: Rejecting all charges of ‘political pressure’, the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS) on Thursday said that all Malegaon blast accused will be charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

"All the accused had earlier been booked under sections of the IPC, Indian Explosives Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," Joint Commissioner of Police (ATS) Hemant Karkare said.

The ATS has arrested 10 people so far and has also taken custody of another accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi, who was nabbed by the city police with a fake Army identity card in his possession, Karkare said.

The accused include self-styled Swami Dayanand Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya, Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. Purohit was on Wednesday remanded to two day police custody. Another accused, Sameer Kulkarni sent to a day’s police custody.

Eight of the accused are currently in judicial custody but further police custody can be sought to interrogate them under MCOCA, ATS officials said.

The ATS has invoked Section 3 of the MCOCA pertaining to organised crime against the accused which includes a sadhvi, a self-styled religious leader and a serving Army officer.

The Sections applied are 3(1)(i), which provides for a death penalty if the crime had led to death of an individual, 3(2) for life imprisonment for conspirators or abettors and 3(4) which provides for a minimum sentence of five years for anyone who is a member of the organised crime syndicate.

Karkare rejected all speculation of political or media pressure influencing the ATS investigation. He also said that Col Purohit had told the court that the ATS had not ill-treated him.

“Charges of Purohit’s ill-treatment are wrong. He has told the court the same,” Karkare emphasised.

MCOCA gives investigating agency plenty of room to continue their probe as the accused will not be able to seek bail for 6 months. It can also seek extension to the time required for filing a chargesheet.

The ATS chief said gathering evidence was difficult and that every aspect is being thoroughly looked into.

Over the information about Army RDX being used in Samjhauta blast, Karkare said it was the statement of a witness that needed to be verified. He also informed they were hoping to retrieve some concrete link between Purohit and Dayanand from the former’s laptop.

As far as demand of handing over the investigation to CID, the ATS chief expressed confidence that his team will continue the probe.

Your comment(s) on this article

The only reason the detainees are charged under MCOCA is to keep them behind bars till at least the general elections are over, because even now it is clear to many that they have been arrested without evidence (except things like the accused were seen together on the same stage, were members of the same organisation etc) and if they are out on bail, many more will come to not only know their innocence but also about the UPA plot to divert attention from Islamic terrorism Muslims in gratitude will not doubt en block vote for UPA -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

n j\krishna wat r u doing in christian country like usa getting yr mom fucked come from there and stay in hindu india motherfuckers like you are responsible for the sorry state of india asshole like u stay and make money in usa and call christians bad shame u live a bastard like u shud die asshole son of a bitch u r -indian - abu dhabi

I`m sure Mahatma Gandhiand Bandit Nehru must be happy what they did to India by not allowing it to become a Hindu country I have more respect for Jinnah, who at least managed to give the Muslims a true Muslim country, where Hindu leaders (Gandhi, Nehru) have saddled up India with a Muslim problem which can only be solved through a civil war! -raghuveer -

Mr Krishna, what r u doing in christian country usa come back to india and fight for the cause of hindu seating there in usa in confortable room and commenting wont help india nor hindu catch the next flight and come back we need people like u but m 100% sure u wont come -rajesh - mumbai

Congress is now a party of christians In the last parliamentary election christian churches send its teams to each house to canvass vote for the Sonia’s congress Some christian organizations have demanded quota for christians in congress party Christian MPs are anti nationals and all the christian MPs which is more than 30 MPs met on Thursday March 10, 2005 the banned christian terrorist organisation of Nagaland NSCN that is calling for independence from India saying that Nagaland is for Jesus and pledged their support HINDUS SHOULD VOTE ONLY FOR HINDUS Hindus should not vote for any christian candidates from any political party Hindus should not vote for the Congress party which is in the control of Rome Mary Sonia Gandhi and the christian church Hindus should go to every Hindu home and convey this message A time has come for Hindus of India to protect themselves and ask every Hindu family to vote only for Hindu candidates from any party other than Sonia’s congress -n.krishna - usa

Rome Mary is targeting Army Officers to bring a bad name to defence forces Defense minister AK Anthony is a CIA product who was involved in the CIA sponsored Vimochana Samaram of Kerala and the CIA initiated fake ISRO spy case and is an anti Hindu christian who did mass sterilization of Hindu tribals of Vyanadu If the ATS found some wrong doing of an Army officer, the proper procedure is to inform the top brass of the Army of the finding and it is the Army to investigate further Now a LtCol is being paraded as a criminal pushed and shoved into Police vehicles with covered head and repeated narco analysisThe Army should have asked the ATS to inform about any wrong doing for investigations and Court Martial if needed It is Sonia’s cogress at centre and Maharashtra that is attempting to tarnish the image of Armed forces as well as Hindu parties sadhus calling Hindu groups as Saffron Brigade We are now being attacked by christians and christians are now the enemies of Hindus -n.krishna - usa

Rome Mary is targeting Army Officers to bring a bad name to defence forces Defense minister AK Anthony is a CIA product who was involved in the CIA sponsored Vimochana Samaram of Kerala and the CIA initiated fake ISRO spy case and is an anti Hindu christian who did mass sterilization of Hindu tribals of Vyanadu If the ATS found some wrong doing of an Army officer, the proper procedure is to inform the top brass of the Army of the finding and it is the Army to investigate further Now a LtCol is being paraded as a criminal pushed and shoved into Police vehicles with covered head and repeated narco analysisThe Army should have asked the ATS to inform about any wrong doing for investigations and Court Martial if needed It is Sonia’s cogress at centre and Maharashtra that is attempting to tarnish the image of Armed forces as well as Hindu parties sadhus calling Hindu groups as Saffron Brigade We are now being attacked by christians and christians are now the enemies of Hindus -n.krishna - usa

Congress is targeting the top leadership of BJP Congress spokesman have spoken whether LKA is helping Hindu terrorists Two other Congressmen said Gujarat Govt has not co-operated with ATS of Bombay and has violated the Constitution This targets Modi Gujarat Govt asked ATS to show warrants for the arrest of the Swami in Dangs, a legal requirement for interstate Police action Media has gone to the hilt, repeating every hour Malegaon blast and Hindu terrorists, and even after three weeks of torture, ATS have not been able to find a single charge that would stand in the Court and daily bulletins are telecast of revelations and collusionsThis arrest and media trial is a vote bank act by the ISI CIA agent Manmohan and Italian plant Rome Mary Sonia PM is calling for first priority of Country`s resources to Muslims Earlier Sachar Committee demanded that the Army Chiefs to disclose the no of muslims in Army The christian controlled govt wants to divide the Army on Communal lines -n.krishna - usa

Congress is targeting the top leadership of BJP Congress spokesman have spoken whether LKA is helping Hindu terrorists Two other Congressmen said Gujarat Govt has not co-operated with ATS of Bombay and has violated the Constitution This targets Modi Gujarat Govt asked ATS to show warrants for the arrest of the Swami in Dangs, a legal requirement for interstate Police action Media has gone to the hilt, repeating every hour Malegaon blast and Hindu terrorists, and even after three weeks of torture, ATS have not been able to find a single charge that would stand in the Court and daily bulletins are telecast of revelations and collusionsThis arrest and media trial is a vote bank act by the ISI CIA agent Manmohan and Italian plant Rome Mary Sonia PM is calling for first priority of Country`s resources to Muslims Earlier Sachar Committee demanded that the Army Chiefs to disclose the no of muslims in Army The christian controlled govt wants to divide the Army on Communal lines -n.krishna - usa

250 small temples demolition in Guj by modi govt No one so called hindu hraday samrat Advani or VHP/RSS/ BD supporter who r putting senslesss and useless comments are dare to write any comments there I am dam sure , if that would have been done by any other govt (non NDA) in any state u all would have vomit vamon in the name of hinduism and termed them an attack on Hindu sentiments B`coz u all are selective and baised in ur thinking Let the ATS do there job if all the accused are innocent they will b free we still have fare and transperent judicial system dont dout the interatity of mumbai police they are very efficient let them do there job and wait for case to come up in court Talking rubbish is not going to solve any purpose Let the court decide if all will b prove innocent can put defametion case against mumbai ATS -pankaj - glasgow

http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2008-11-20/485158news.html

Investigate why India lost 1962 war:

Former Army official New Delhi, Nov 18: Contending that the Indian Army had an upper hand over the Chinese in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, former Director General of military operations Lt Gen P N Kathpalia on Tuesday sought an investigation to unravel the exact cause of India's defeat. "Our Army was better equipped ... had good knowledge of the terrain and had carried out reconnaissance missions, but despite this we lost. It is a mystery and needs to be investigated," he said here. Lt Gen Kathpalia was speaking at a function organised by the Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Research Foundation to commemorate the valour of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the Chinese Army in one of the bloodiest battles on this day 46 years ago in Chushul, a frontier post in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Rubbishing theories that Indian Army surrendered cheaply to the Chinese forces, he claimed that the Indian Army, in fact, did not fight and where it fought it won. "We lost without fighting a war. Where we fought we won," he said, referring to the war in Chushul where just 114 Indian soldiers accounted for as many as 1,200 Chinese soldiers and spoiled their plans to further invade into Indian territory. Several other speakers and former war veterans also blamed the policies of the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for India's defeat. They alleged that the then leadership had unequivocal faith in China despite the warning of the first Home Minister Sardar Patel and that there was a collective failure of Intelligence agencies. The foundation's director Tarun Vijay, who visited Chushul early this month, also sought the government's attention to improving civic amenities for the locals there. Bureau Report
Your comment(s) on this article
Not least among the reasons why India lost in 62 against China was Nehru`s blind trust of the Chinese - which trust he formed because he was supping quite a lot with the Indian commies. -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Indian Navy sinks pirate vessel off Somali coast

Zeenews Bureau Gulf of Aden, Nov 19:

Within days of preventing the hijack of an Indian merchant vessel, Indian Navy’s warship INS Tabar, after exchange of fire, sank a pirate vessel off the Somali coast. According to reports, the Indian Navy acted definitively after a group of pirate vessels tried to encircle the Indian warship with the motive to attack it. After a brief exchange of light fire, the warship hit the pirate vessel leading to its sinking. The incident happened at around 9.45 pm Tuesday night. No casualities were reported from the Indian side. The Indian warship, the INS Tabar, was dispatched to the Gulf of Aden in October after a spike in piracy and hijackings off the coast of Somalia, which is caught up in an Islamic insurgency and has had no functioning government since 1991. It is the third of the Talwar-class frigates of the Indian Navy. INS Tabar is the first vessel in the Talwar class to be armed with supersonic BrahMos (PJ-10) Anti-ship cruise missiles. Meanwhile, another ship has been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden waters. The ship was flying a Hong Kong flag but is operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The status of the crew or its cargo remains unknown. NATO has also expressed concerns about the growing incidences of piracy in the crucial shipping lane along the Gulf of Aden. The worldwide concern was triggered after yesterday’s hijack of an Saudi oil tanker – considered of the biggest- by pirates in the same region. The hijacking, in fact led to a one dollar rise in the crude oil prices. This is the second successful strike by the Indian Navy within a week. It may be noted that last Tuesday the Indian warship foiled an attempt by the pirates to hijack an Indian and a Saudi ship off the Somalian coast. The incident happened when the pirates on power-boats attacked Saudi Arabia-registered merchant vessel "MV Timaha," and half an hour later a second group tried to board a 38,000-tonne bulk carrier owned by India's Great Eastern Shipping Co INS Tabar patrolling the area responded to a distress call by "MV Timaha" and sent an attack helicopter carrying commandos which opened fire while the pirates were making repeated attempts to board the Saudi ship This year has seen a spurt in the pirates’ activities off the Somalian coast and till now there have been nearly 90 such attacks. In the last 12 days itself they have hijacked seven ships in the Gulf of Aden, the latest being an Iranian cargo vessel
Your comment(s) on this article
The Indian Navy is going great guns! We are proud of our boys -K.Venugopal - Mumbai
BRAVO ZULU Indian NavyI congratulate to all sailors/ officers/ EXO and the commanding Officer of INS TabarDespite of all hardship which evry one is suffering On Board,the job carried out is commendableThat is why our forces are loved by each and every IndianWe are proud of you -vasant Raut - Mumbai
Idiot politicians learn from the efficiency of our armed forces and do something for the country Shame on you and congrats to our great navy -Ashvini - Bangalore
Welldone Hats off the men who involved in the action goodluck to all our naval personal -KAMATH - VAPI

RSS, Bajrang Dal are not terrorist groups: British government

London, Nov 19:
The British government has said that neither the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) nor the Bajrang Dal are terrorist organisations and their members are not banned from entering Britain.

"The government do not consider the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the Bajrang Dal as terrorist organisations," British Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Malloch-Brown told the House of Lords.

"Neither organisation is proscribed in the UK or in India, nor do the Indian government classify either as a terrorist organisation," Malloch-Brown said in reply to a question by former cabinet minister Lord Chris Patten.

Malloch-Brown said decisions on whether or not to ban a group in Britain "must be proportionate and based on evidence that a group is involved in terrorism as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000."

The British minister also turned down a plea by Patten, who had visited India in October, to "ensure" that members of the RSS and Bajrang Dal are prevented from entering Britain.

Malloch-Brown replied that neither the RSS nor the Bajrang Dal are banned in Britain or subject to other restrictions or sanctions. Nor were they classified as terrorist organisations or banned by the Indian government.

"Unless an organisation is proscribed in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of an organisation does not in itself provide grounds for refusing entry to the UK.

"Where there is evidence that the presence in the UK of a particular individual would not be conducive to the public good, consideration will be given to denying entry," the minister said in his answer earlier this month.

While Patten's questions at the House of Lords may have been prompted by the anti-Christian violence in Orissa, informed sources said the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) - set up in 1966 as the nearest equivalent of the RSS in Britain - works very differently from Hindu groups in India.

"The HSS was set up in a number of countries. They have little to do with the RSS and abide by the laws of the country where they are based," said a source closely allied to the HSS in Britain.

"They largely undertake activities concerning cultural identity rather than nationalistic identity. You can't equate what happens in Gujarat, or elsewhere in India with what's happening in Britain. For the second generation in particular, India is a bit abstract," the source said.

The HSS is said to have around 70 'shakhas' or branches offices in Britain, with around 1,100 regular visitors.

"Over the years, British Prime Ministers and opposition leaders have passed through their doors," the source said.

RSS general secretary Mohan Rao Bhagwat stopped over in Britain in September on his way back from a visit to the Caribbean.

"He was felicitated by the community. Some important people, including police, were aware of the visit and there was no problem," the source said.

IANS
Your comment(s) on this article
``The HSS …have little to do with the RSS and abide by the laws of the country where they are based,`` said a source closely allied to the HSS in Britain.

I am surprised by this statement Why would HSS want to deny its close links with RSS? It would be a honour for them to be linked to the RSS Such a disciplined organisation dedicated to Indian nationalism as the RSS is hard to come by RSS members, under whichever organisation, have no reason to be against any country wherein they are residents or citizens Moreover, RSS is influenced by the most basic principle of Hinduism – live and let live -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

here see the side of britishers they are open for all cast & community not like indian politicians hating christians & muslims i have seen acrooss world hindus are safe in christain & muslim majority countries but in india they are staying under fear and presure of majoiry community hindus we shoild take some learning from britishers -Vijay - MUMBAI

If you want to prove yourself secular then you will have to speak against hindu else you will be called bhgawaa Bhai I am congressi aur dharmnirpopeksh hoo isliye meri majboori hai mujhe hindus ke khilaaf bolnaa padta hai -vikas - ghaziabad

this fact is known in all parts of the world and unfortunately in our own country it is the other way!! This is congress/UPA politics -indian - India