Thread by @jaysingh_01

Breaking news & thread incoming:

@dineshbhatia of @IndiainToronto & @HCI_Ottawa spoke at a recent Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Canada (HSS) event.

HSS is the international arm of the far right Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Swa…

Why is this a big deal?

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Let me unpack this for you.

HSS=RSS

The RSS is an Indian right-wing, Hindu nationalist (Hindutva), & paramilitary organization.

Widely condemned as an extremist organization, and reported on by the likes of @CIA, @amnesty, & @hrw

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya…

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. @hrw re: RSS in its 2017 Report:

“Vigilante violence aimed at religious minorities, marginalized communities, and critics of the government—often carried out by groups claiming to support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—became an increasing threat in India in 2017"

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“The government failed to promptly or credibly investigate the attacks, while many senior BJP leaders publicly promoted Hindu supremacy and ultra-nationalism, which encouraged further violence.” @hrw goes on

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“Dissent was labeled anti-national, and activists, journalists, and academics were targeted for their views, chilling free expression. Foreign funding regulations were used to target nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) critical of government actions or policies.”

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“In July, even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally condemned such violence, an affiliate organization of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), announced plans to recruit 5,000 “religious soldiers” to “control cow smuggling and love jihad”, @hrw finally adds.

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.@amnesty was also critical of the RSS, caste-based violence, and militant Hindutva activities affiliated with the RSS like VHP and Bajrang Dal.

The Ruling BJP replied by raiding @AIIndia in an unprecedented and widely condemned move.

reuters.com/article/us-ind…

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The @CIA has classified RSS operations VHP & Bajrang Dal as “militant religious outfits”.

They have played the key role in communalist riots, minority lynchings, and attacks on Christian churches + more

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vhp-a-mi…

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Here’s the US State Dept

state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/…

“Members of civil society & religious minorities said, under the current government, [they] felt more vulnerable to Hindu nationalist groups engaging in violence against non-Hindu individuals & places of worship.”

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“Religious minority communities stated, while the national government sometimes spoke out against incidents of violence, local political leaders often did not, and at times made public remarks that individuals could interpret as condoning violence" they add

That govt? Modi.

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Modi was a key RSS member and was banned from traveling to USA for his alleged role in the anti-Muslim violence and the 2002 Gujarat riots while he was State Cheif Minister

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Guja…

The connection and strong link between the RSS and the BJP is well known

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This prophetic piece from @sunny_hundal highlights the axis of RSS, BJP, Hindutva and extremism

independent.co.uk/news/world/asi…

“Hindu fundamentalism, also called Hindutva, is driven by a trio of organisations in India called the Sangh Parivar – the family.”

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“The RSS is an ultra-conservative group that demands unflinching patriotism and preservation of Hindu culture; the VHP is their religious arm; the BJP is the political arm and India's main opposition party.” @sunny_hundal goes on

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“There are smaller offshoots too including a violent paramilitary wing called the Bajrang Dal and the hardline Shiv Sena party in Mumbai whose founder adored Hitler.” @sunny_hundal finally adds.

The BJP is now the ruling party

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Back to @dineshbhatia HSS event

One of the pics worshipped on stage is RSS founder MS Golwalkar

Golwalkar was a Nazi supporter, and actually took inspiration from Hitler - which explains the shocking infatuation of Hitler in India and RSS circles

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._S._Gol…

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Here are some disgusting Golwalkar quotes supporting Hitler form his book:

“To keep up the purity of the Race and its culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic Races - the Jews. Race pride at its highest has been manifested here.”

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He disturbingly keeps going

“Germany has also shown how well nigh impossible it is for Races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindustan to learn and profit by”

cc: @CIJAinfo, @UJAFederation

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Golwalkar said this against the idea of a secular Indian state. This is the foundation for RSS Hindutva Hindu nationalism...

“The non-Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and language, must learn and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion...”

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“...must entertain no idea but of those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture …In a word they must cease to be foreigners, or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation…” Golwalkar goes on

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“...claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatment—not even citizens' rights” he adds

The RSS wants to eradicate Muslim & minority identities in India

@dineshbhatia spoke from a stage with this guy's pic on it...

cc: @nccm & @canadianmv

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Why is the RSS/HSS, a far right Hindu Nationalist org, active in Canada to begin with?

Why is @dineshbhatia attending their events?

Hopefully @cafreeland, @NavdeepSBains, @HarjitSajjan, @JustinTrudeau, @AndrewScheer, & @theJagmeetSingh challenge Dinesh and India on it

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Will @dineshbhatia denounce RSS militancy, far right Hindutva, & the pictures of well known Hitler sympathizer MS Golwalkar?

Dinesh is literally sitting on the stage of an event where an extremist like Golwalkar is being worshipped.

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It’s Indian interference in Canadian affairs & support for far right orgs like RSS/HSS that Sikh Canadians & other minorities protest.

How about investigate this instead of chastising Sikhs over raising "grievances"

cc: @CBCTerry @ujjaldosanjh @TerryGlavin @DouglasTodding

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. @dineshbhatia & @HCI_Ottawa have found themselves in trouble before, re: @IndiainToronto intereference in Brampton's Carabram festival.

@ArshyMann has a great piece about it in the @globeandmail:

theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…

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Hindu Heritage Month is being held in November and will be a time when we all celebrate the rich Hindu culture.

However, politicians must be careful that they are not attending RSS/HSS events and be made props for far right and violent Hindutva movements in Inda.

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