Hindus still a ‘soft target’ in India: Sanatan Sanstha on Raut’s arrest

A day after the arrest of right-wing Hindutva worker Vaibhav Raut, following a raid at his residence in Nalasopara, the controversial organisation - Sanatan Sanstha - has labelled him a “devout Hindutva worker” who has time and again acted against cow smugglers in Nalasopara and nearby districts. Though the organisation denied any ‘link’ with Raut, it maintained that he is being “falsely implicated” in the case. The Sanstha, already grappling with litigation seeking its ban, has claimed that Hindus continue to be targeted despite a “pro-Hindu” party ruling the nation. It would be pertinent to mention that the Sanstha and its members have time and again been named as accused in several bomb blast cases and murder cases, especially the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalaburgi and others. Raut was arrested on Friday by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) after the agency recovered some explosive substances from his residence in Nalasopara. He is reportedly a wanted accused in some other blast cases.

In a telephonic conversation with The Free Press Journal, Chetan Rajhans, the Sanstha's spokesperson said, “The arrest of Raut has nothing to do with our organisation. He is not at all related to us. But I will still say he is a devout Hindutva worker and is falsely implicated in the case.”

“Raut has been active in Nalasopara and its neighbouring areas and also in Goa. He is a member of the Govansh Raksha Samiti and has successfully acted against more than 25 cow smugglers,” Rajhans said.