First, a video from Bajrang Dal’s ‘self-defence’ camp in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh went viral. Then, it led to the arrest of its leader Mahesh Sharma. Not that this deterred the the Hindu Sena — the organisation has said it will carry out similar camps in Delhi, to train young leaders to “fight against Islamic terrorism”.
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ContributeAccording to this report, the Sena wants to organise one in Connaught Place, a buzzing business centre in central Delhi. Earlier this month, the Sena was in the news for organising a puja to pray for Donald Trump and ask the gods to make him President of the United States of America. The fringe right-wing organisation if Trump comes to power, he will act strongly against Islamic terrorism.
The Faizabad district police registered a first information report (FIR) earlier this week, against 50 members of Bajrang Dal, under Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They’re charged with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, and acting to cause disharmony.
The VHP, as per this report, has defended the weapons training programme as a “routine exercise”. VHP joint secretary Surendra Jain is quoted as saying that the outfits and robes worn by men portraying terrorists in the video were, in fact, inspired from what is shown in the media.
“The videos released by ISIS have been showing (Osama bin) Laden, Yakub and (Abu Bakr al) Baghdadi in a particular kind of attire which has become a standard symbol of terrorist attire,” said Jain. “Therefore, it is these terrorist organisations which should take the blame for the generalisation of this attire; there is no way the blame for this can be laid at the doorstep of the Bajrang Dal which was only following a media pattern.”
Meanwhile, despite the arrest after the Faizabad video, a newer video of the organisation’s ‘self defence’ camp in Noida has surfaced. The video shows the organisation’s activists displaying their skills in sword fighting, and using a metal ball and chain weapon. Whether fighting with a bendy sword and shield qualifies for “self-defence” is up for debate, but we do think a ball and chain that can be used like a propeller would be a rather stylish way of protecting one’s masculine or feminine virtue.
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