A former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) insider has made explosive allegations, claiming that senior figures from the RSS, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Bajrang Dal orchestrated and carried out a series of deadly bombings across India between 2004 and 2008.
Speaking to The Wire, Yashwant Shinde asserted that the attacks were part of a deliberate strategy to inflame communal tensions, kill thousands, and consolidate political power.
According to Shinde, the conspiracy was driven by individuals with “extremely vile and perverse mindsets” who sought to “set the country on fire” to ensure their grip on power remained unchallenged. He accused these groups of exploiting communal flashpoints—such as Ayodhya and Kashmir—to stoke violence and polarise communities for electoral gains.
Drawing parallels to the political gains made after the Ayodhya agitation in 1989, Shinde said such tactics were repeatedly used to bolster BJP leaders, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Shinde alleged that RSS leader Indresh Kumar was a key architect of the plan. Around 2000, Kumar introduced him to a group from Nanded, who, Shinde claimed, underwent weapons training from the army.
There were also purported plans to send them to Pakistan to target civilians. The group, he said, was trained to assemble time bombs, with explicit instructions to attack public gatherings such as Muslim weddings.
One incident Shinde highlighted was the 2006 Nanded blast, in which an RSS member died when a bomb being prepared accidentally exploded. He alleged that individuals like Rakesh Dhawde and Ravi Dev were directly involved, while figures such as Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit were merely “pawns” used to shield the actual masterminds.
Having joined the RSS in 1994, Shinde claimed he attempted to sabotage the plot from within but feared for his life if he openly opposed it. After the Supreme Court dismissed his petition for a fresh investigation, he decided to go public with his claims, stating that the truth needed to be told despite the risks.
