RSS to highlight plight of people in Balochistan

NEW DELHI: To lend a helping hand to India’s efforts to corner Pakistan over human rights abuse in Balochistan, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has lined up a series of events to “highlight” the plight of people in the neighbouring country’s restive province.

On October 1, Baloch leaders living as exiles in Germany, Switzerland and other European nations will be in Delhi to share stories of brutalities faced by the community.

Representatives from the Balochistan Republican Party and the Free Baloch Movement have been invited by RSS think tank India Policy Foundation (IPF) to draw world attention to what the Sangh says is “internal colonisation” of Balochistan by Pakistan.

Though Pakistan has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech was to divert attention from “human rights violations in Kashmir”, the RSS asserts that it is wrong to say that India is using Balochistan to counter Pakistan on its claim on Kashmir.

“Their (Balochistan’s) culture, tradition and sense of history are incompatible with those of Pakistanis. Balochistan is internally colonised by Pakistan and its liberation movement must be supported,” said Rakesh Sinha of IPF.

The Sangh says the simmering discontent in Balochistan is “analogous” to East Pakistan emerging as an independent Bangladesh with India’s assistance.

“India could play a pivotal role in the region, since it shares cultural bonds with the people,” a Sangh functionary told Hindustan Times.

The RSS also has a sympathetic view on the appeals for asylum in India by Baloch leaders, including Brahumdagh Bugti who is now in Switzerland.

“If the Dalai Lama is welcome in India, we must think of the Baloch leaders as well,” the Sangh functionary said.