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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{short description|Hindu fundamentalist organization}}
'''Abhinav Bharat''' is a [[Hindu]] organization<ref name="MirrorExplodes">{{cite news|title=The Mirror Explodes: Hindu is a reality, yet India refuses to utter its name|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|access-date=3 May 2014|newspaper=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=19 Jul 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129100253/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266145|archive-date=29 November 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashraf |first=Ajaz |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/dear-rajnath-singh-hindu-terror-is-exactly-the-word-for-abhinav-bharat-extremists-2375470.html|title=Dear Rajnath, 'Hindu terror' is exactly the word for Abhinav Bharat extremists|date=2 August 2015|newspaper=Firstpost}}</ref> founded by retired [[Indian Army]] Major Ramesh Upadhyay<ref name=di/><ref name=ndtv/><ref name=toi/> in 2006 in [[Pune]], India. It has a large base in [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The organization is believed to be the revived form of the pre-Independence era [[Abhinav Bharat Society]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mahan|first=Rajan|title=Abhinav Bharat under ATS scanner for '07 Ajmer blast|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/abhinav-bharat-under-ats-scanner-for-07-ajmer-blast-1925|access-date=3 May 2014|newspaper=[[NDTV]]|date=14 April 2009}}</ref><ref name=ban>{{cite news|last=Jain|first=Bharti|title=Maharashtra government moves to ban Abhinav Bharat|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-government-moves-to-ban-Abhinav-Bharat/articleshow/18700472.cms|access-date=3 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 Feb 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home ministry turns down Maharashtra's plea to ban Abhinav Bharat|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Home-ministry-turns-down-Maharashtras-plea-to-ban-Abhinav-Bharat/articleshow/21978779.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The activities of the organisations received widespread attention after Maharashtra [[Anti Terrorist Squad (India)|Anti Terrorist Squad]] (ATS) arrested its member for the [[Malegaon blasts|2006 Malegaon bombings]] case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Naveen |first=P. |title=Malegaon blast: Focus on new outfits |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/malegaon-blast-focus-on-new-outfits/article1-347406.aspx |access-date=2 May 2014 |newspaper=[[The Hindustan Times]] |date=27 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503000011/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/malegaon-blast-focus-on-new-outfits/article1-347406.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2014 }}</ref> It has no relationship to the [[Mumbai]]-based [[charitable trust]] of the same name.<ref name="The Indian Express">{{cite news|title=Mumbai trust wants Abhinav Bharat to change name|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mumbai-trust-wants-abhinav-bharat-to-change-name/781166/|access-date=7 May 2014|date=25 Apr 2011}}</ref>

==History==
Abhinav Bharat was named after the [[Abhinav Bharat Society]], an organisation founded by [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]] in 1904. The original organization believed in armed revolution, and was responsible for the assassinations of some officers{{Which|date=September 2022}} of the ruling British government before being disbanded in 1952.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2010">{{cite journal|last1=Jaffrelot|first1=Christophe|title=Abhinav Bharat, the Malegaon Blast and Hindu Nationalism: Resisting and Emulating Islamist Terrorism|journal=Economic & Political Weekly|date=4 September 2010|volume=45|issue=36}}</ref>

The current Abhinav Bharat was founded in 2006 by Ramesh Upadhyay<ref name=di>{{Cite web|url=https://darkindia.wordpress.com/history-of-lt-col-involved-in-bomb-blasts/|title=History of LT COL involved in Bomb Blasts|date=2 November 2008}}</ref><ref name=ndtv>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/who-is-shrikant-purohit-449785|title=Who is Shrikant Purohit?|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> and lieutenant-colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit.<ref name=toi>{{cite news|title=Mutalik used Abhinav Bharat funds for business|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mutalik-used-Abhinav-Bharat-funds-for-business/articleshow/7422155.cms|access-date=3 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 Feb 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=10 Facts About Lt Col Purohit, Main Accused In 2008 Malegaon Blast Case|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/10-facts-about-lt-col-purohit-main-accused-in-2008-malegaon-blast-case-1740028|access-date=2020-12-23|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The first few meetings of the new group took place in 2007.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2010"/> Himani Savarkar, the niece of [[Nathuram Godse]] and the wife of Vinayak Savarkar's nephew, was elected president of the group in 2008.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2010"/> During the first few meetings of the organisation, the members discussed the idea that Hinduism was in danger, and needed to be defended.<ref name="Jaffrelot 2010"/> In 2008, several of its members were arrested on the suspicion of being involved in the [[2006 Malegaon bombings]], and its official website was closed down.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haygunde|first=Chandan|title=Abhinav Bharat's site shut|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/abhinav-bharat-s-site-shut/378725/|access-date=4 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=28 Oct 2008}}</ref>

==Relationship with Sangh Parivar groups==

[[Sangh Parivar]] representatives have distanced themselves from Abhinav Bharat (AB).<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sangh_distances_itself_from_Malegaon/articleshow/3687599.cms |title=Sangh distances itself from Malegaon episode - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2008-11-08 |access-date=2014-04-15}}</ref> [[Praveen Togadia]], the former head of the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad|VHP]], fears that Abhinav Bharat is diverting radicals from the VHP, from where much of the Abhinav Bharat membership originates.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Togadia_alarmed_by_Lt-Cols_rise/articleshow/3683348.cms |title=Togadia alarmed by Lt-Col's rise? - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2008-11-07 |access-date=2014-04-15}}</ref> Abhinav Bharat has also been accused of plotting to kill senior [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] leaders, including RSS Chief [[Mohan Bhagwat]], who the Sangh Parivar thought wan't doing enough for [[Hindutva]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/blast-accused-wanted-to-kill-saffron-leaders/story-A5i81qIFrFIxb6Bw4RYbJO.html |title=Blast accused wanted to kill saffron leaders |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=2008-11-21 |access-date=2014-04-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Did-Abhinav-Bharat-plan-to-kill-RSS-chief/articleshow/6099750.cms |title=Did Abhinav Bharat plan to kill RSS chief? - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2010-06-28 |access-date=2014-04-15}}</ref>

[[The Caravan]] conducted interviews of [[Swami Aseemanand]] to publish an exclusive profile,<ref>{{cite news |author=Leena Gita Reghunath |title=The Believer: Swami Aseemanand's radical service to the Sangh |newspaper=Caravan |date=1 February 2014 |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/believer |access-date=2014-12-10}}</ref> in which he named Bhagwat in relation to [[2007 Samjhauta Express bombings]], [[Ajmer Dargah attack]] and [[Mecca Masjid bombing]]. Later, Aseemanand called the magazine article "fabricated" and threatened to launch legal action against the article’s author. However, the Caravan defended its report and released tape recordings and transcripts of the interviews.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aseemanand threatens to launch legal action against The Caravan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/aseemanand-threatens-to-launch-legal-action-against-the-caravan/article5666565.ece|access-date=4 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=8 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=Caravan>{{cite news |author=Leena Gita Reghunath |title=Swami Aseemanand interviews |newspaper=Outlook |date=8 February 2014 |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/swami-aseemanand-interviews |access-date=2014-12-10}}</ref>The [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA), which investigating Aseemanand, said that he never named any RSS leader during questioning. The RSS, too, has denied the allegations.{{fact|date=December 2022}}

==Allegations of involvement in bombings==

Following the arrest and investigation of Abhinav Bharat members Swami Aseemanand, Shrikant Purohit, [[Pragya Singh Thakur|Sadhvi Pragya Thakur]], Lokesh Sharma, Kamal Chauhan, Sunil Joshi, and Rajendra Choudhary in connection with the 2006 Malegaon blasts,<ref>{{cite news|title=ATS may arrest Abhinav Bharat leader today|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ATS-may-arrest-Abhinav-Bharat-leader-today/articleshow/3733665.cms|access-date=4 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> the organization has been investigated for its alleged role in [[2007 Samjhauta Express bombings]], [[29 September 2008 western India bombings|Malegaon blasts]], [[Mecca Masjid bombing]], [[Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast]] and Jalna mosque bomb attack. In all these bombings 147 people were killed.<ref name=ban /><ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Narco_test_to_be_carried_on_Abhinav_Bharat_activist/articleshow/3696561.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Narco test to be carried on Abhinav Bharat activist | date=10 November 2008}}</ref> Anti-Terrorism Squad Investigations have revealed that serving and retired army officers associated with Abhinav Bharat hijacked the organisation and motivated the youth to take up armed struggle against Muslims.<ref name="expressindia.com">{{cite news |date=2 Nov 2008 |title=Abhinav Bharat was 'hijacked' by hardliners: probe |newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/abhinav-bharat-was--hijacked--by-hardliners-probe/380249/ |access-date=4 May 2014}}</ref> [[Swapan Dasgupta]] notes that the group seemed little more "than a letterhead or part of a fantasy world".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/malegaon-to-mangalore/415982/1 |title=Malegaon to Mangalore|publisher= Indian Express |date=28 January 2009}}</ref>

Praveen Mutalik, who was arrested for his alleged role in the [[29 September 2008 western India bombings|2008 Malegaon blasts]], is alleged to have received more than {{INRConvert|3|l}} from Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a co-founder of the Abhinav Bharat.<ref name=toi/> Furthermore, the [[Anti Terrorist Squad (India)|Anti Terrorist Squad]] has clamied that Ajay Rahirkar, the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat, received {{INRConvert|10|l}} from various ''[[hawala|hawaladars]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abhinav Bharat treasurer may have received hawala money|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Abhinav-Bharat-treasurer-may-have-received-hawala-money/articleshow/3696566.cms|access-date=3 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=10 Nov 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Hindu Nationalism}}

[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism-motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Nationalist terrorism]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]
[[Category:Militant Hindu groups]]
[[Category:2007 Samjhauta Express bombings]]
[[Category:Anti-Islam sentiment in India]]

Abhinav Bharat - Revision history

Bot at 01:23, 5 December 2022