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| Hindu Munnani | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the organisation. | |
| Founder | Ramagopalan |
| Foundation | c. 1980 |
| Country |  India |
| Ideology | Hindutva |
| Status | Active |
| Part of | Sangh Parivar |
| Website | hindumunnani |
Hindu Munnani is aright-wingHindutvamilitant organisation[1] based in theIndian state ofTamil Nadu. Hindu Munnani was set up byRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), aright-wingHindutvaparamilitary organisation.[2] The organisation was founded in 1980 by Ramagopalan, a member ofRSS and since its formation served as the platform for RSS and its subsidiaries known as theSangh Parivar in the region.[2]
The organisation promoted a Hindu identity and used it as apolitical mobilisation strategy.[citation needed] TheAIADMK government in the 1990s was in alliance with the Hindutva alignedBharatiya Janata Party which enabled Hindu Munnani in organizingVinayaka Chathurthi processions in major cities ofTamil Nadu.[2] The state government's support ofRama Gopalan's activity made him a follower ofJayalalitha. Due to the proximity, a faction of the group broke away and found another group namedHindu Makkal Katchi in 1993. Themilitants of the Hindu Munnani usedvituperative andabusive language against the Muslims. The provocative speeches againstIslam andMuhammad polarized the social atmosphere of the region. Theiranti-Muslim speeches and activities led to formation of radical muslim terrorist organisationAl Umma.[2]
The activities ofR.S.S., Hindu Munnani andHindu Makkal Katchi continued uninterrupted under Jayalalitha. TheBJP alliance with AIADMK led to further spread of RSS ideology in Tamil Nadu. These organisations usedreligious festivals to combine their strength and causedriots.[2]
The Hindu Munnani first gained public awareness in 1982 when it began toincite theHindu population ofRamanathapuram district against theMeenakshipuram conversions by Ishaatul Islam Sabha of South India.[3][4]
However, the most remarkable achievement of the Hindu Munnani was the organisation ofVinayaka Chathurthi processions in Tamil Nadu.[5][6][7][8] On 16 May 2006, the Hindu Munnani organised the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the installation of theshivalinga in the Jalakanteswarar temple inVellore.[9]
TheVinayaga Chathurthi celebrations organised by the Hindu Munnani were often accompanied by sporadic incidents ofcommunal violence.[10][11] In 1993, there were bomb attacks made on the R.S.S. state headquarters atChintadripet,Chennai.[3] Islamic organisations were found guilty for the blasts and a crackdown was launched on extremist Islamic organisations.[3]
During the visit ofBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaderL. K. Advani and Indian Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee to Coimbatore in 1998,a series of thirteen blasts rocked the city, killing over fifty-eight people. The Coimbatore bombings were considered a response to the 1997 Coimbatore riots.[12][13]
In 2007, there were clashes between the Hindu Munnani and theDravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the remarks made byBJP leaderVedanti onDMK President and Chief MinisterKarunanidhi.[14] DMK cadres attacked the Hindu Munnani state headquarters in Chennai on motorbikes.[15]
In September 2017, six members of Hindu Munnani were arrested in connection with the murder ofCPI member K.Kanagaraj inVirudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu.[16]
In March 2020, Hindu Munnaniattacked a mosque inCoimbatore during a communal tension.[17]
In 1981, Hindu Munnani leader, Thirukovilur Sundaram, was murdered at R. S. Puram inCoimbatore byIslamic fundamentalists.[18]
S Vellaiappan, a senior leader of Hindu Munnani inVellore, was murdered by a gang of 8 people when he was headed towards Ramakrishna Math on his motorbike in July 2013.[19]
K. P. S. Suresh Kumar: He was the president of the Hindu Munnani for Thiruvallur East district. He was originally from Kanyakumari. He was murdered by people fromAl Ummah, a banned Islamic terrorist organisation,[20] in June 2014.[21] Three members were detained by the police in August 2014.[22]
Jeevaraj: He was Hindu Munnani'sTirunelveli town secretary. He was murdered by his wife due to alleged illicit,adulterous relationship with other girl in July 2014.[23]
C Sasikumar: A member in Coimbatore. A gang of two members fromPopular Front of India (PFI), a banned Muslim organization, chased him on motorcycles and attacked him with sickles. He suffered injuries and died in Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).[24]
