The ‘RSS ki Saazish’ book by Aziz Burney has become an infamous blot in the history of Indian journalism and politics. He is a veteran journalist and a prolific writer who has worked with famous publications during his career. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, whose party was in government at the time as part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), even endorsed the book by attending its launch event.
I managed to get a hold on a digital copy of the book on the internet and downloaded the same. I asked ChatGPT to summarise the book for me in English and requested it to tell me what the book says about specific stakeholders in the fallout from the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack. This is what ChatGPT told me about the content of ‘RSS ki Saazish’ (Conspiracy of RSS), a book that was endorsed by a senior Congress leader.
What ‘RSS ki Saazish’ says about Ajmal Kasab
Ajmal Kasab was the only Pakistani terrorist who was captured alive during the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks. He was hanged to death following a verdict of the Supreme Court of India. Aziz Burney cast several aspersions on the manner in which he was arrested, the legal proceedings as well as the Indian media coverage of him.
One specific angle that the book pursued is whether Ajmal Kasab was really the person he was presented to be. He also asks why were international journalists and observers not permitted to verify his identity or speak to his family until much later.
‘RSS Ki Saazish’ engages in fact-free conspiracy-mongering without presenting any shred of evidence to back its claims. He relies on conjecture and speculation combined with a heady mix of his own fantasies to reach fantastical conclusions.
Aziz Burney also questions the photographs of the terrorist that were captured during the attack. The photographs are not surprising given that it was a suicide attack that was conducted in some of the most iconic places in Mumbai.
The book very cleverly spreads the idea that the photos of Ajmal Kasab that were captured on 26/11 could have been planted or staged.
Aziz Burney questioned even the legal proceedings and Kasab’s confessions. He makes a huge deal out of the fact that the confessions were made in legal custody and not under independent legal observation. He also attempts to create an aura of suspicion around the fact that international media and observers were not provided access to Kasab.
All of this is standard procedure. No other country has any locus standi on a terror attack that happened on Indian soil. It is bizarre that Digvijay Singh chose to endorse this book which undermines the credibility of his party’s government.
The end goal of the book is to make the suggestion that Ajmal Kasab was planted by Indian agencies for its own objectives. It is suggested that Kasab might have been captured elsewhere and planted into the scene of the Mumbai Terror Attacks to serve hidden political agendas.
Aziz Burney does not even hesitate to question even Pakistan’s admission that Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national. He suggests that Pakistan might have been forced to do so under pressure.
What Aziz Burney says about Pakistan in his book
‘RSS Ki Saazish’ describes Pakistan as a convenient scapegoat that serves the agenda of the Indian Political Establishment. He claims that the focus on Pakistan helped shut down investigations into the potential involvement of ‘Hindu Terror Networks’. He further insists that Indian Intelligence Agencies ‘rushed’ to blame Pakistan and the ISI without sufficient evidence or due process.
The book also condemns the Indian Media for running a ‘vilification campaign’ against Pakistan. The Indian Media was condemned for relying on Government and Military sources in its reporting and not sufficiently on ‘independent’ sources.
What ‘RSS Ki Saazish’ says about the UPA Govt and the Sangh Parivar
The book accused the Congress-led UPA Government of intentionally avoiding the pursuit of leads that could implicate the RSS. It says that the UPA consciously chose the ‘safe’ narrative of blaming Pakistan instead of opting to ‘expose Hindu extremist groups’ and risk political damage.
The core narrative of the book suggests “The RSS and other right-wing elements in India might have had foreknowledge, indirect involvement, or motives to benefit from the attacks.” It “proposes a broader political conspiracy aimed at strengthening Hindutva narratives, weakening Indian Muslims.”
Direct quotes from the book with English translations
I requested ChatGPT to provide me with direct quotes from the book along with English translations. Here are some quotes that it threw up.
- “कसाब तो सिर्फ एक मोहरा था, असली खेल तो उन्हीं के हाथ में था जो भगवा झंडा लहराते हैं।”
“Kasab was merely a pawn; the real game was in the hands of those who wave the saffron flag.” - “कसाब की तस्वीरें तो पहले ही तैयार थीं, जैसे किसी फोटोशूट से निकली हों। क्या आतंकवादी ऐसे ही कैमरे के सामने पोज देते हैं?”
“Kasab’s pictures were already prepared, as if they were from a photoshoot. Do terrorists really pose like that in front of cameras?” - “कांग्रेस ने संघ के डर से अपने होठ सिल लिए, ताकि हिंदू वोट न रूठ जाएं।”
“The Congress stitched its lips out of fear of the Sangh, lest the Hindu vote be lost.” - “हर आतंकी घटना के बाद पाकिस्तान का नाम सामने लाना एक आदत बन चुकी है, क्या यह न्याय है या रणनीति?”
“Dragging Pakistan’s name after every terror attack has become a habit—Is this justice or a strategy?” - “पाकिस्तान ने पहले कसाब को अपना नागरिक मानने से इंकार किया, फिर स्वीकार किया — क्या यह भी किसी समझौते का हिस्सा था?”
“Pakistan first denied Kasab was its citizen, then accepted him—Was this also part of some arrangement?”
Why did Digivijay Singh endorse ‘RSS Ki Saazish’?
The book by Aziz Burney is widely considered the delusional fantasies of a crackpot. Burney apologised profusely for it after the publication. In an apology published on the January 28, 2011 edition of the Urdu Daily Rojnama Rashtriya Sahara, he said, “I am an Indian and stand by my government on all international matters. I will never do anything to compromise its position in the rest of the world.”
There were court proceedings initiated against him as well by an RSS functionary which were ongoing at the time. Amidst all of this, the only pertinent question here is, why did Digvijay Singh, who was the general secretary of the INC at the time, endorse the book? Was it inspired by the pressures of vote bank politics? Or was he simply ordered to do so by the higher powers within the Congress party? It is one question we will likely never know the answer to.
