They certainly are two sides of the same coin, with this significant difference
- whereas even the High Court has stated that there is insufficient evidence to
nail SIMI and so it lifted the ban on the organisation, the bajrang Dal/ VHP
are openly carrying out acts of terror and repeatedly taking the claim for what
they are doing. Yet no action is taken against them. The important point is
that SIMI propogates [whether they act accordingly is not proven] recourse to
unconstitutional methods and goals, but is exactly what the hindu
fundamentalist sangh parivar organisations DO when they attack and even kill
muslims, christians etc., for whatever reasons, on whatever pretext e.g.
conversion, hurting sentiments etc. They do not use democratic methods of
protest but instead they are brazenly and publicly using fascist methods to
terrorize individuals, communities. If they are not stopped and their
organisations brought under strict legal survelliance (by banning), then
democratic norms and methods will be compromised and other sections/
organisations will start deserting them too. This will be diastrous for the
country. Majoritarianism and illegal functioning are grave threats to a
harmonious society.
