Rahul Gandhi Cable: 'Radicalised Hindu Groups' May Be Bigger Danger Than Islamist Terrorists

A WikiLeaks-released diplomatic cable landed in Indian politics like a grenade in December 2010. According to the cable, reported by The Guardian, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had told US Ambassador Timothy Roemer that "the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community."

The remark came in 2009, at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in reply to Roemer's question about the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its threat to India. Gandhi reportedly acknowledged evidence of some support for LeT among elements of India's Muslim community, but said the growth of radicalised Hindu groups could be the bigger danger. He also warned of the risk of a "homegrown" extremist front reacting to terror attacks from Pakistan or Islamist groups.

The Congress moved quickly to contain the damage. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari read out a statement on Gandhi's behalf: "terrorism and communalism of all kinds are a threat to India" and the country must "remain vigilant against terrorism of all kinds no matter who commits them." AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi issued a similar clarification, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the party would first verify the cable's authenticity.

The opposition was scathing. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad called the reported remark "irresponsible" and said Gandhi should raise such concerns in Parliament with Indians, not share them with a foreign ambassador. RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav called it evidence of "utter ignorance."

The episode captured a recurring feature of the Cablegate era: private candor, meant for an ambassador's ears, detonating in public — and politicians on all sides discovering that in the age of leaks, no conversation is ever truly off the record.