In controversial comments, Rahul Gandhi told US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, that growth of “radicalised Hindu groups” posed a bigger threat to the country than militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), according to a leaked American diplomatic cable.
Gandhi, during a conversation with the envoy at a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence in July 2009, in honour of visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also referred to tensions created by some of the more polarising figures in the Bharatiya Janata Party such as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the cable said.
According to a secret US diplomatic cable from New Delhi released by WikiLeaks, the Congress leader shared his views with Roemer on a range of political topics, social challenges, and electoral issues for the Congress party in the next five years. “Responding to the Ambassador’s query about LeT’s activities in the region and immediate threat to India, Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group in India’s indigenous Muslim community,” the cable notes.
“However, Gandhi warned, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community,” it said. “The risk of a ‘home-grown’ extremist front, reacting to terror attacks coming from Pakistan or from Islamist groups in India, was a growing concern and one that demanded constant attention,” it said. The cable signed off by Roemer said Gandhi, who was seated next to the Ambassador, was forthright in describing the challenges faced by the Congress party and the UPA government in the months ahead.
When contacted in New Delhi, the US Embassy offered no comments on the WikiLeaks contents. The US, which has accused WikiLeaks of stealing its secret cables, has refused to either deny or confirm the authenticity of these cables.
Slamming Rahul, BJP said Congress wanted to create a communal strife, so that they can have a vote harvest in the coming elections. “They (Congress) are feeling let down by the corruption scandals and price rise, so they are afraid of losing elections. This is their old trick,” BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said.
According to the cable, Roemer said, “Over the past four years, he (Rahul) was an elusive contact, but he could be interested in reaching out to the US, given a thoughtful, politically sensitive and strategic approach on our part.”