Yashwant Shinde says that the RSS and VHP are committing treason against society and the nation  

Yashwant Shinde spoke at a virtual congressional briefing organized by HfHR, IAMC and 16 other organizations on September 7, 2022.

“The RSS, VHP and some members of the BJP are completely misleading the Hindus and are misusing the Hindu culture against the Muslims. This is treason against society and treason against the nation.”

(Watch his full remarks in Hindi, with English translation: https://fb.watch/fvylLDovIP/)

Yashwant Shinde sounded confident and precise in his remarks packed with dates and names.

He joined VHP when he was 18 years old, at the time when the Ram Janambhoomi movement was at its peak and when Kashmiri Pandits were being displaced in large numbers. He wanted very much to go to Kashmir and fight the terrorists. But the organization would not send him there and instead gave him other assignments. 

In 1994 he went on his own to J & K and offered his services to displaced Hindus. They told him that they did not need his physical help, but connected him with the RSS.  

He became the RSS pracharak in charge of various districts over time and worked closely with senior RSS/VHP leaders for several years.  

In his remarks, he talks about the sangathan’s strategy of planting bombs in various parts of the country and to pin them on Muslims. He participated directly in a bomb-making workshop in Pune, organized by Rakesh Dhawade and conducted by Mithun Chakravarthy, alias Ravi Dev of All India Bajrang Dal. But, he says, he vocally disagreed with the strategy of indulging in violence for electoral gains and refused to participate in the actual bombings. He says that Milind Parande, national coordinator of the VHP “got a contract” to carry out the bombings.

“Had I agreed to join them, there would have been hundreds more bombings and thousands more killed,” he says. 

Some of his other comments (roughly translated): 

Why did he file a court affidavit nearly twenty years later? 

He was not staying silent and repeatedly raised his concerns with senior members of the RSS and VHP, such as Srikant Joshi and Venkatesh Atre. People all the way to the top, including Mohan Bhagwat knew what was happening, but they did nothing. 

“Only a person belonging to the RSS family can enlighten people on what’s happening.”

“It’s the RSS which wants to make Muslims the enemy…They are spreading fear around the world.”

“Hindus need to introspect.” 

“Would rather die fighting in the battle-field”

To Indians in the diaspora: 

“Hinduism is not about spreading hatred against Muslims, but that is what is happening today”

“We must enlighten the majority community about what Hinduism really is.”

“Equality before the law is a must.” 

Please see the full video of his remarks for details of names of senior RSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal people he was associated with and those he says participated in the bombings. 

(Watch his full remarks in Hindi, with English translation: https://fb.watch/fvylLDovIP/)