NEW DELHEI: No minorities please, only Hindus. Despite the present regime’s supposedly secular outlook, recruitment policies followed by the ‘country’s elite securely organizations, the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Special Protection Group (SPG), have a distinct communal bias.
Both organizations are manned exclusively by Hindus. So much so that though a mandir holds pride of place in the NSG’s sprawling 1620acre Haryana campus, other places of worship are conspicuous by their absence. Since the 7,400strong force docs not boast of a single non-Hindu, they are not required, Established in 1985, the NSG is a fully armed force used for specialized operations like counter hijacking and counter: terrorism, Security for Z.catgory VIPs. also forms. part, though ‘a minor one, of the duties of this purely deputations force, with 52% of its personnel especially handpicked from the army and the rest from the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF ‘and SSB.
Says the NSG director general, A.K. Tandon, “We take them strictly according to their qualifications whoever fits into our qualitative requirements. They should be young, physically fit, mentally alert and proficient in firing.” When asked whether the organization possesses anybody ‘other than the majority community, he admits, “There is nobody.”
While no written instructions have been issued regarding, recruitment, there is an implicit verbal understanding to avoid deputing those from minority communities (read Sikhs and Muslims), Sikhs are not twisted since Indira Gandhi’s assassination and all ‘Muslims are suspect because of terrorism in J&K. As a 29yearold commando puts it, “gikhs are creating problems in Punjab and Muslims are revolting in Kashmir. $0 we do not have any here.”
This is a blatant violation of Article 16(2) of the Constitution relating to public employment, which expressly states, “No citizen shall on grounds only of religion, race, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for or discriminated against in respect of any employment or office under the state.” Says the constitutional lawyer, Rajiv. Dhawan: “According to the worldwide law on discrimination, even a nondiscriminatory rule exercised in a discriminatory manner a practice which suggests people of only one ‘community are being employed is against the law.
However, despite repeated attempts to contact him the Union minister for internal security, Rajesh Pilot, under whose jurisdiction the NSG falls, did not take himself available for comment.
Reinforcing the organization s pure Hindu character, the DG (NSG) is currently experimenting with a six day spiritual course called ‘the art of living. Since May, four courses have been held on the NSG campus in Haryana, involving 150 personnel and their families. Prior to this the DG himself attended a special course held for him and other senior officers at the NSG’s Delhi headquarters. Significantly, the courses are con ducted by Bangalore based Vyakti Vikas Kendra, whose founder, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, happens to be an adviser to the VHPrun World Buddhist Cultural Foundation (WBCF). In fact, regular courses along with a weekly Sunday satsang archeldat the Jatier’s Scindia House office.
Aimed at relaxation and reduction of stress, the course combines breathing exercises based on the Patanjali yoga sutra with chanting of the traditional Hindu Om Namon Shivayeand group discussions on Common human problems. Although ostensibly nonreligious in character, weekly satsangs form not only part of the course but are later mandatory for all those who attend it.
Tandon has strongly recommended the course to the army and paramilitary forces because he feels, “if I put my force through it, it will sharpen their shooting skills and focus reflexes, as alignment of mind and body is essential for my high precision force.” He is toying with the idea of including it in the NSG’s three-month training curriculum. ‘This subtle indoctrination and communal segregation of the country’s prestigious security forces raises some questions. How dispassionate will they be in their dealings with minorities? And will they be able to combat the dangers of Hindu fundamentalism?
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1995
