Swami Aseemanand Says Mohan Bhagwat Gave The Go Ahead For 2007 Blasts, Was The RSS Involved?

By Akhil Kumar:

The News: Caravan Magazine has published a detailed report titled ‘The Believer’ with Aseemanand’s statement that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat gave him the go ahead for the bomb blasts in which he stands accused. He is accused number one in the Samjhauta train blasts; accused number three in a bombing at Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid that killed 11 people, in May 2007; and accused number six in a blast at the dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan, that killed three people, in October 2007. The magazine has even published audio transcripts on the website to back up the report. The transcripts are from 4 interviews that took place over 2 years. The revelations have come as a shock to the RSS and they have become defensive, rubbishing the allegations. Aseemanand’s lawyer denies that the interview even took place and even the RSS has rubbished the claims.

With the elections round the corner, this might serve as a major blow to the right wing in India. Aseemanand has even previously given a detailed statement in an open court alleging that the RSS was linked with the blasts though he didn’t name any party leader back then. He later retracted his statement. Full story here.

The Opinion: There has been widespread debate in relation to hindutva terror and the rise of communal fascism in India. If the report holds true, there will be a major shift in public opinion on nationalistic politics.

The Caravan report is very detailed and they have even put up the audio transcripts to back up the report. The allegations are very serious and shows the RSS in very bad light. If the report is confirmed, it means that the RSS was involved in terrorist activities that claimed the lives of hundreds of Indian citizen. The fact that Aseemanand has previously given a similar statement in an open court alleging RSS links to the blasts, even though he didn’t name anyone in particular, makes the magazine’s report look very valid.

On the other hand, Aseemanand’s lawyer has denied that any such interview took place in the first place. RSS has also rubbished the report saying they doubt the validity of Caravan’s report and that Mohan Bhagwat is being falsely implicated.

Aseemanand’s statements have never been consistent. He made one statement in the court, a different one in the NIA investigation and retracted his statements and now this. His words have never been consistent and the interview has been done over a very long time (2 Years). Since he hasn’t been consistent, we can never ascertain what was said at what time and thus the validity of the report remains uncertain.

Has Aseemanand exposed the terrorist activities of the RSS or Is the Caravan report not to be trusted, what do you think?