‘Who Was Godse?’ Asks Twitter After PM’s ‘No Hindu Terror’ Remark

“Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?” Modi had said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments attacking the Congress for allegedly linking “peace-loving Hindus” to terrorism at a rally in Maharashtra’s Wardha on Monday, 1 April, has generated quite a stir on social media.

Soon after his comments surfaced, people took to Twitter to remind the prime minister of the terrorist acts ‘committed by Hindus’ even while indicating that terrorism has no religion.

A number of Hindus committed terrorist acts against the British in the late colonial period. See Durba Ghosh's 2017 book, titled Gentlemanly Terrorists: Political Violence and the Colonial State in India 1919-1947.

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 2, 2019

Godse was affiliated with a paramilitary group known as the RSS. Modi is an RSS man.

It's a fascinating historical story that the RSS has gone, in 70 years, from being killers of India's leaders to being India's leaders. But to stay on point - Godse, a Hindu, assassinated Gandhi

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 2, 2019

Two high-profile cases: The 2002 pogrom in Gujarat (implicating Modi to the extent that he was banned from travel to the USA for more than a decade thereafter) and the 2007 Samjhauta express bombing, to which an RSS guy confessed.

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 2, 2019

In summary, it is nothing short of insane to say that no Hindu has ever committed an act of terrorism. It is just as insane as saying no Muslim or no Christian has ever committed an act of terrorism (No reasonable person would say either of those things). So why did Modi say it?

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 2, 2019

The world of facts, about India's past and present, is not kind to BJP interests. So they leave it behind.

The best hope for the BJP in the current election is to run on a platform of violence while verbally denying the ground beneath their feet and pray that nobody notices.

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 2, 2019

Slamming the Congress for the 'Hindu terror' metaphor, Modi had on Monday charged the Opposition party with insulting "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism.

“The Congress tried to stain crores of the country’s people using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, weren’t you deeply hurt when you heard the term ‘Hindu terror’? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?”

PM Modi in Wardha

The Godse Debate

In response to Modi’s comments, references were especially made to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by right-wing Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse.

Addressing a public meeting, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said:

“The one who killed Mahatma Gandhi, what was he? Nathuram Godse. Was he Owaisi’s brother? Who was he? Was he not a terrorist? Speak up Modi. Who was Nathuram Godse? You won’t say it because you know you are trapped here. Mr Modi, you are weakening India by talking about Hindus and Muslims.”

Asaduddin Owaisi

Social media users too brought up Godse after the prime minister’s ‘no Hindu terror’ remark.

“Terror has no religion. But since you asked, prime minister, do not forget the most heinous terrorist in independent India”: ‘The Telegraph’ reminds @narendramodi of Nathuram Godse after PM asks: “Is there a single incident in history of Hindus engaging in terrorism?” @ttindia pic.twitter.com/ypyvMx1U4p

— churumuri (@churumuri) April 2, 2019

Hindu can't be a terrorist - Narendra Modi

Isn't Sanatan Sanstha a Hindutva organisation? Why did Maharashtra ATS book people of Sanatan Sanstha under UAPA? Did Godse convert before murdering Gandhi? Who is Aseemanand?
Listen to @abhisar_sharma https://t.co/3BmGJSeFUa

— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) April 2, 2019

Mr Prime Minister - who was Nathuram Godse !! If not a terrorist !!! @narendramodi @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/LirBVKuXAl

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) April 2, 2019

"Hey Ram"!

These were the final words of Gandhiji when three bullets were fired at him by Nathuram Godse (Hindu) from 9mm Beretta, automatic pistol.

Nathuram Godse was a Hindu & a Terrorist. He killed the Father of Nation - #Gandhiji#IndianHistoryFacts @ttindia pic.twitter.com/j3lTuriuJd

— Ashish Joshi (@acjoshi) April 2, 2019

When @narendramodi says "Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism" (https://t.co/iXvKqCP9vl), what he really means to say is:

— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) April 2, 2019

However, one user also pointed that Godse’s assassination was for political reasons, indicating that it shouldn’t be linked to Hinduism.

Using Godse's identity as a Hindu is an old pretext by leftists to pedal the myth of Hindu terrorism. But truth is Godse himself called it a assassination for political reasons. Unlike terrorists world over who explicitly declare it "jihad" for "Allah" against cow piss drinkers https://t.co/tMHCRYk0YE

— Monica (@TrulyMonica) April 2, 2019

The PM’s speech was also fact-checked.

PM Modi is wrong: Hindu terror wasn't coined by Cong. In fact, Maharashtra ATS under BJP govt in 2018 charge-sheeted several Hindus for terrorist acts. Imp and timely fact-check by ever-reliable @DeeptimanTYhttps://t.co/741oOSrR8x

— Maneesh Chhibber (@maneeshchhibber) April 2, 2019

Though not naming Congress President Rahul Gandhi who has decided to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kerala’s Wayanad, Modi had also said on Monday that the Congress is scared to field its leaders from constituencies where majority dominates in terms of voter-base.

"They linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism... they are scared now to contest election from constituency where majority population dominates... they are forced to go where majority (Hindus) are in minority," he said.

(With inputs from PTI.)