Mumbai: Amid ongoing national debates over terrorism and its political framing, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday made a strong appeal to both political leaders and society to stop viewing terrorism and Naxalism through religious or political lenses. Stressing that terrorism stems from deep-rooted socio-economic disparities, Raut said, “Terrorism is terrorism, it is neither green, saffron, nor red.”
'Systematic Failures Behind Terrorism, Naxalism': Sanjay Raut
Addressing the media, Raut underlined that extremism, whether in the form of terrorism or Naxalism, is often a consequence of systemic failures like poverty, lack of education and unemployment. “Why do people turn to terrorism? Because they lack livelihood, employment and education. That’s the reason Naxalism grew,” he said, adding that rather than assigning communal tags, the country must focus on inclusive development and education as long-term solutions.
Raut stressed the transformative power of education, stating it as the key to addressing extremism and ensuring social justice. “Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Adivasis, everyone needs education. Without it, the country cannot move forward. Every child must have the opportunity to learn and build a better future,” he said. He called for development policies that do not exclude any community or region, cautioning that communal or ideological rhetoric only weakens national unity.
Hindu Can Never Be A Terrorist: Amit Shah In Rajya Sabha
His remarks follow a controversial statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha, where Shah declared, “A Hindu can never be a terrorist,” and blamed the Congress for creating the “Hindu terror” narrative.
The statement came during a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, where Shah highlighted the Modi government’s shift from sending dossiers to executing direct action through surgical strikes and air operations.
Responding to Shah’s comment, Raut reminded the government that terrorism knows no religion or caste. He also invoked the case of Kulbhushan Yadav, whom Pakistan accuses of being a Hindu terrorist. “We don’t accept that label. He is our citizen and the government must work to get him released, instead of giving sweeping generalisations,” Raut said.
