More than 20 bomb blasts have occurred over the last two days in two of India's states killing over a twenty people. Both the states are ruled by right wing BJP.
On Friday 8 blasts kileed one person and injured several people. Fortunately the terrorists used low grade explosives reducing the death toll.
Deccan Herald - Seven serial blasts rock Bangalore, 1 killed
On Saturday 17 serial blasts in Ahmedabad killed 20 people and injured over 100.
Times Of India - Serial Blasts in Ahmedabad
While India is used to Pakistan trained terrorists in Kashmir and earlier in Punjab, only in recent years has domestic terrorism has become prominent.
More below the fold.
Over the last 5 years a dozen serial blasts have occurred claiming hundreds of lifes. There is little doubt that most of the blasts have been the handiwork of domestic Islamic terrorists probably with Pakistani help and encouragement.
TOI - Chronology of major attacks in India since 2003
Hindu - muslim clashes are not uncommon in India. Ever since the 10th century when Muslim rulers invaded India and established permanent Islamic kingdoms in the country - they have been a part and parcel of Indian life.
But major muslim discontent can be traced to the political activities of the right wing conservative party of India - BJP - India's equivalent of Republicans. Starting with the Rath Yatra of 1989 by Advani and the destruction of Babri Masjid by BJP Hooligans in 1992 - BJP has deftly used religious bigotry to get votes - including the recent victory in Karnataka where the blasts occurred on Friday. BJP is widely known as the anti-muslim party. There have been various violent incidents against muslims - including ones encouraged by BJP ruled state governaments - and terrorist bomb blasts in a cycle of violence.
Narendra Modi, the BJP chief minister of Gujarat where the blasts happenned on Saturday is widely implicated in the Gujarat Riots in which more than a 1,000 people were killed. Modi has been accused of systematic government pograms or even genocide. Human rights activists successfully got his US visa cancelled 2005.
http://www.state.gov/...
Mr. Modi's existing tourist/business visa was also revoked under section 212 (a) (2) (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 212 (a) (2) (g) makes any foreign government official who "was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for a visa to the United States.
What does this all mean ?
Terrorisms does not exist in a vacuum. It starts as a result of injustice and bigotry. It does not, obviously, make it right. But, unless the injustices are corrected terrorism can't be eliminated - purely by force.
Also, the main way to combat terrorism is through good intelligence. There is no other way to secure every stream of every city in a democracy.
Need to run now ... more updates later.
Update 1 : Slowly the US media is picking the story.
CNN - Blasts in Indian city kill at least 29
Bombs kill at least 15 in western Indian city
The death toll seems to be increasing ... it is now at 30.