"Yes, there are Hindu extremist groups that have engaged in acts of violence, some of which could be classified as terrorism depending on the definition used.
Here's what the search results indicate:
* Hindu Nationalist Organizations: Several Hindu nationalist organizations and their affiliates have been implicated in violence, often targeting Muslims and other religious minorities in India. These organizations advocate for an ideology known as Hindutva, which seeks to establish the hegemony of Hindus and Hinduism in India.
* Sangh Parivar: This is an umbrella term for a collection of Hindu nationalist organizations, with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as its central body. Other prominent members include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (the current ruling political party in India), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) (World Hindu Council), and the Bajrang Dal (militant youth wing of the VHP). These organizations have been accused of engaging in hate campaigns and sometimes violence against religious minorities.
* Abhinav Bharat: This is a specific group whose members have been accused of involvement in terrorist attacks in the late 2000s targeting Muslims in India.
* "Saffron Terror" or "Hindutva Terror": These terms emerged in the aftermath of attacks in 2007-2008 where the accused had links to Hindu nationalist organizations. While some prefer the term "Hindutva terror" to distinguish it from the broader Hindu faith, the phenomenon involves acts of violence motivated by Hindu nationalist ideology.
* Historical Context: The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, a former member of the RSS and associate of a Hindutva ideologue, is a significant historical example of violence stemming from Hindu nationalist extremism.
It is crucial to understand that:
* These extremist groups and their actions do not represent the beliefs and practices of the vast majority of Hindus, who are peace-loving.
* The term "Hindu terrorism" is contested, with some arguing it unfairly maligns the entire Hindu faith, while others use "Hindutva terrorism" to specifically refer to violence motivated by this political ideology.
* The focus should be on the specific ideologies and groups involved in violence rather than generalizing about an entire religion.
In conclusion, while not as globally widespread as some other forms of terrorism, there are indeed Hindu extremist groups that have engaged in acts of violence motivated by Hindu nationalist ideology.
