The RSS Bangalore declaration, which includes the 'Minority Guide to
Good Behaviour', is the unsurprising product of an organisation
which, for making such pronouncements, can, perhaps be banned under
the Indian Constitution. We need to note the timing of this guide -
against the backdrop of the ethnic genocide of Muslims in Gujarat,
accompanied by brazen justifications. The Sangh parivar has to quite
a large extent succeeded in implementing a fascist ideology. And
today, at least in Gujarat, if one is born a Muslim one has to forget
all other attributes of one's identity. People in large numbers have
lost their properties and lives - for the single reason that they
were born Muslim. Even now appropriate relief by the state is not
being provided to the victims because they happen to be Muslims. We
need to pay heed to K N Panicker's warning: "Narendra Modi's Gujarat
is a blueprint of the future, if the Indian state comes fully under
the control of the Sangh parivar. If India is not to be decimated by
a civil war as in the case of Bosnia, the agony of Gujarat should not
occur anywhere in the country" (The Hindu).

We request the secular parties, particularly of the Left, to
appreciate the import of the RSS Guide and of Panicker's foreboding,
and organise a mass movement for emancipation of all Indians, because
the slide of society towards fascism led by the saffron brigade (and
aided and abetted by reactionaries of all hues) cannot be halted by
courts and symbolic actions of the non-fascists. There is no
alternative to a resolute progressive mass movement. That alone can
halt the fascists' onward march.

The declaration purports to be a guide to good behaviour for the
minorities, and in particular for the Muslims. The other minorities
therefore have to pay special attention to these guidelines. But, we
hope that others too have not forgotten the onset of fascism and
lessons of the second world war. We ask them to recall the
unforgettable words which the famous pastor Nicmoller uttered when he
came out of a Nazi prison: "When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a
Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the
Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not
a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked
me and the Protestant church - and there was nobody left to be
concerned."

The objective of the Sangh parivar as also that of the reactionary
organisation working under the banner of other religious
denominations is to divide the people on the basis of religion, and
proclaim themselves as representatives of their respective
communities, thereby leaving no space for progressive thinkers.

We appeal to all progressive social and political formations to form
a joint anti-fascist front around the following four demands and save
the Indian society from further ruin.

- Proper rehabilitation of Gujarat victims.
- Institution of an enquiry commission headed by a sitting judge of
the Supreme Court to probe into the Godhra massacre and the Gujarat
pogrom.
- Repeal of POTA.
- Demand that the RSS withdraw its Bangalore resolution, and failing
this, that the government of India should take action.

Last year in the wake of earthquake in Gujarat the government of
India levied a 2 per cent surcharge. This year a similar surcharge
needs to be levied for the rehabilitation of riot victims, and an
independent central organisation needs to be set up for the
disbursement of relief, to be overseen by an all-party committee.

Hasan Abdullah, Ather Farouqui
New Delhi