The horrific killing of forty nine people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday has sent shivers across the world. Perhaps first of its kind, a right wing white supremacist who is an Australian citizen has been identified as the killer behind the massacre. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as a terrorist attack and one of New Zealand’s “darkest days”. In an audacious act the gunmen live-streamed the attack in Facebook. As per media report he had espoused racist, anti-immigrant views. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the man as an “extremist, right-wing” terrorist.
The attack has exposed the way in which right wing extremists are beginning to use violent method to target minorities and migrants. The ultra right wing groups are becoming dominant in the west. The US and several European countries are witnessing alarming rise in right wing ideology. Their ideology propagates hate against minorities and migrants and work against the democratic values espoused by the west. The attacks like one witnessed today at Christchurch will further divide communities across the world. It was good on the part of PM Jacinda Ardern to take lead role in condemning the attack and describing it as terrorist incident. The Christchurch terrorist attack is a lesson for every countries including India which too are facing heat of right wing groups. The present government at the centre has turned blind eye to the violent activities of the Hindu right wing groups. These groups operate in similar manner by targeting minorities. Unfortunately the government has not been able to control their illegal activities. Day by day these groups are becoming emboldened and are terrorizing the minorities.