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When the year 2008 began it appeared it might be riot-free year for the first time in 60 years after independence. However, soon this hope was belied and riots began to take place as every year. Though again most of the riots were not major towards the end of the year even that hope was belied. Also as usual police behaviour was totally partial though with few exceptions and minorities received drubbing.
Another peculiarity of 2008 was major communal violence against Christians for the first time in post-independence India. Though Christians have been under attack for several years but it was dubious distinction of 2008 that it saw major communal violence against Christian minority in Kandhmal district of Orissa. The Sangh Parivar was never in such foul mood against this tiny minority which has rendered great services in the field of education and health.
In fact the first riot occurred against Christians in Kandhmal district on 1st January 2008. In fact riots against Christians had erupted on 25th December 2007 and situation was already simmering. Several houses belonging to Christians were burnt in the villages of Sripala, Rebingia, Nuapadar and Kasinapadar in Kandhmal district. Some 10 houses were set ablaze in these villages. During these incidents several people fled to jungles or to other villages.
It would be interesting to mention here that former chief Justice of India Justice V.N.Khare on 19th January called for setting up of an autonomous body to deal with communal riots cases stating that it is the state’s rajdharma (duty) to protect the minorities, Justice Khare said that communal riots should not be treated merely as a law and order problem. He said that such “riots are a serious problem†and a serious view of the matter should be taken. Justice Khare also demanded that a special law be enacted to promote. He also observed “Where is the right to life if minorities are victimized and those who victimize are not persecuted and instead go scot –free�
But who would listen to this voice of sanity and year after year minorities suffer in these riots and rioters indeed go scot-free. The UPA Government could not even enact the Communal Riots Bill for which it had given solemn promise. It is still gathering dust and now there will be hardly any Parliament session to take it up before next elections take pl ace and the Bill will naturally expire. So much for secular government. Its priorities are hardly to seriously prevent communal violence.
Riots regularly breakout on the occasion of certain religious festivals, specially Holi. On March 23rd rioting broke out in Chittorgarh and Tonk, both in Rajasthan in which several people were injured and, 12 shops were burnt and vehicles burnt. About 30 people were arrested. Jamshedpur in Jharkand also witnessed minor communal violence on the day of Holi. One person was injured. It was result of eve teasing by members of one community whereas woman belonged to another community.
On 4th April Jalna in Marathwada witnessed communal rioting when some Hindutvadis began to sing songs about constructing Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after noon prayers outside a mosque. Eight persons were injured including a police inspector. Three persons were critically injured. Though some people brokered peace but at night again people belonging to Bajrang Dal attacked a Muslim Mohalla and trouble erupted. After Jalna Jalgaon also witnessed outbreak of communal violence in which 4 persons were injured and 21 were arrested. This too was result of dispute between youth of two communities.
Baroda in Gujarat is another extremely communally sensitive place where of and on riots break out between Hindus and Muslims every year. This time again Baroda witnessed communal violence on 10th April. Five were injured and 4 cars were set ablaze and 25 persons were arrested.
Kerala is normally a peaceful state and except on certain rare occasions no communal violence is witnessed. After 15 April four communal murders were reported in Kasargod, a Kerala district bordering Karnataka. The spate of murders took place after some people belonging to BJP supporters got down from a car to urinate near a bus stand from where a mosque is not far off. When someone objected crowds gathered and violence erupted. People shut their shops after series of murders were reported though there was no call for hartal (strike).
On 18th April there violence erupted in Bhirari village when some people tried to set two Muslim families on fire. Again trouble began when some members of Bajrang Dal began to sing “mandir wahin banaenge†(we will construct temple at that place only). When some Muslims offering prayer at the time objected, trouble began. One hotel and 4 Muslim shops were set ablaze in addition to several two wheelers. Several people were seen coming from other villages raising the slogan “Jai Shri Ramâ€Â. Subsequently violence spread to other nearby places like Rawer and Chopra also.
In Chopra police resorted to firing in which 2 persons died. Here too the eruption of violence was result of singing Qasam Ram ki khate hain, Mandir wahin banaenge (We take vow in the name of Ram that we will construct temple there only). Chopra witnessed communal violence for the first time. 32 persons were arrested. It is also said that violence was result of money matter between a Hindu and a Muslim.
On 13th June for no reason it seems, some people began stoning Muslims coming out of a mosque after Friday prayer. Police dispersed the mob and yet again they gathered and set fire to 6 motor cycles and few autorickshaws. Police resorted to firing in the air. Some eye witnesses said that a dalit boy was hit by a motor cyclist and that became the cause of rioting.
On 28th June Jabalpur saw communal violence on the question of land near a Jama Masjid in which 35 persons were injured and curfew had to be clamped. Police also resorted to lathi charge and police force had to be increased in view of communal tension.
Indore in M.P. has emerged as another communally sensitive city under the BJP regime. Indore was known for communal harmony but since BJP came to power in M.P. VHP and Bajrang Dal have become much stronger and of and on attack Muslims and Christians. When Amarnath issue in Kashmir erupted the Bajrang Dal and VHP along with BJP tried to enforce Bandh and began enforcing it in Muslim dominated areas and violence erupted. Four persons were killed on 3rd July and 20 persons were injured. Curfew had to be imposed in several police station areas.
Police was seen openly siding with Hindutva organizations Many social activists pointed this out. A delegation of national Minorities Commission also visited Indore and said in its report that riots were pre-planned. Several NGO representatives came for investigation. On 4th July again trouble erupted in new areas and three more people were killed. Thus in all 7 people died on 3rd and 4th July communal violence. In all 200 persons have been arrested which includes 3 policemen who participated in communal violence.
On July 6 in Govandi area of Eastern suburbs of Mumbai a small incident of urinating assumed serious proportions as the boy urinating belonged to another community and those playing cricket nearby belonged to another community. 15 persons were injured in these clashes and there was rioting for almost three hours. According to the police Hindu and Muslim boys were playing cricket and fight broke out between them. In all 12 persons were arrested from both sides.
On 27th July Digras and Pusad in Vidarbh region of Maharashtra came under the spell of horrible communal violence apparently due to incident of insulting Holy Qur’an. However, police maintained there was no such incident. As usual Bajrang Dal, VHP and BJP supporters took out a morcha which turned violent and rioting broke out. Here two persons were killed in police firing.
It must be said that police role was extremely partisan and the SP of the region was heard saying I have taught lesson to these Muslims and they will not be able to raise their head for next 10 years. These words were uttered before our investigator (convener of All India Secular Forum, Maharashtra unit) Suresh Khairnar. According to him police entered Muslim houses and destroyed everything they could lay their hands on. Later on many Muslim activists from Digras corroborated this account.
Muslims of the area were terrified and all this happened in the state ruled by Congress and Nationalist Congress, not by BJP. There is no doubt that police has been greatly communalized over the years and no steps are being taken to improve police functioning. Delegation of Muslims from Digras met Home Minister R.R.Patil and the then Chief Minister V.N.Deshmukh and showed video clippings of ‘police action’ in Digras but no action was taken against the guilty policemen. The SP was not even transferred, let alone be suspended. The Chief Minister visited Nagpur but did not go to Digras though it was just about 100 kms from there.
On August 14 six persons were killed in Tenkasi town of South Tamil Nadu when a group attacked them in “retaliation†for the murder of a local Hindu outfit leader last December, the police said. Five persons were seriously injured in Trinulveli district. Though the police maintained it was merely retaliatory action the fact the Hindu leader murdered last December was Hindu Munnani leader, it couldn’t be non-communal action, police made it out to be. However district collector G.Prakash cited religious ideologies behind the clash.
(Part II)
Tamil Nadu too, like Kerala was communally peaceful until late eighties but Hindu Munnani, a VHP outfit communalized parts of the state in late eighties and Hindu Munnani along with RSS became very active there. RSS has by now successfully spread its tentacles in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and since then these two states have also experienced communal violence.
Orissa which had witnessed communal violence in Kandhmal district right in the beginning of the year came under intensified communal violence after the death of Laxmananda Saraswati, a VHP activist who was busy converting tribals and dalits to Hinduism. Four others were also killed with him. It is still a great mystry as to who killed him and 4 others. The naxalites claimed they killed them and a Naxal leader, hiding his face, spoke on a T.V. Channel and said we have killed Laxamananda Sarasvat.
The VHP, disbelieving Naxal claim went on killing spree in the last week of August and news became to pour in from Kandhmal and Phoolpur districts of killing of Christians. Even Pastors had to run away into woods to escape the wrath of VHP marauders. More than 40 persons were killed in violence spread over three months. A nun was raped just a stone’s throw from the police station. The police became a mute spectator and took no action against VHP killers.
Never in last 60 years of India’s independence such communal fury was witnessed against Christians. It is important to note that BJP is the part of ruling alliance in Orrisa and hence even Chief Minister Navin Patnaik found himself helpless to take any effective action. The Central Government provided Rapid Action Force in adequate numbers and even then communal fury could not be controlled as there was no effective cooperation by the local police.
BJP is determined to widen its political base in Orrisa and as in other states, it does so by targeting minorities. Today it is junior partner with BJD of Navin Patnaik but it is struggling to emerge as a major force in Orrisa in future. Those who are in know of the BJP politics know very well how it expanded its political base in Gujarat by repeatedly organizing communal carnage in Gujarat from 1969 onwards and finally succeeded in thoroughly communalize Gujarat and come to power there with thumping majority. It seems to have similar plans in Orrisa. Unfortunately Navin Patnaik has given opportunity to BJP to do so in Orrisa.
The Orissa communal violence assumed such proportions that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described it a national shame. The Central Government even threatened to move if the State Government does not take effective steps to stop riots. Yet, riots continued and many Christians even converted to Hinduism to save their life. According to The Indian Express report dated 31 August “After days of violence, Kandhmal continues to be battle ground of conversions. In last two days, reportedly over a hundred Christians have been converted to Hinduism.â€Â, said Satyabarat Sahoo, Revenue Divisional Commissioner of the area. Similarly Sajan K.George, national president of the Global Council of the Indian Christians said at Bhubaneshwar, “We have proof that Christians are being forcibly converted to Hinduism in Kandhmal. We have brought to the notice of the authorities.. the police and the state government are not doing anything to protect them. According to our estimates, 50 Christians died in the recent violence..â€Â
On September 8 Azamgarh in U.P. witnessed communal violence in which 2 persons were killed. This happened when BJP M.P. and Hindu extremist leader Aditya Nath Yogi’s rally was passing through Muslim dominated area and provocative slogans regarding Ram temple were being raised. 5 Vehicles were set afire and several people were injured. The Yogi who heads Hindu Yuva Vahini (The Hindu Youth Organization) threatened to burn entire Azamgarh. The rally being taken out by Adityanath was called ‘anti-terrorist Hindu Awareness Rally’. The riot started after some people threw stones at the rally when highly provocative slogans were raised.
On September 9 communal confrontation took place in Agra between Hindus and Muslims when a woman was injured by a motorcyclist. Two groups threw stones at each other and two shops were set afire. A house belonging to Muslims was also burnt down. One Siraj Qureshi noticed it and brought inmates out safely otherwise a major incident would have taken place.
Also on 10th September communal clashes broke out in Gonda, U.P., Bundi, Rajasthan. In Gonda VHP gave call for Bandh in protest against attack on the rally of Adityanath Yogi and Hindus and Muslims fought. VHP activists attacked many Muslim houses and beat up many Muslims. In case of Bundi, in Talera town 12 persons were injured when some dispute between children took communal turn.
On 14th September and following days number of Christian churches came under attack by Bajrang Dal activists in places like Mangalore, Bangalore and several other places. In Karnataka BJP is in power and police dare not take any action against VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. These attacks also continued for several days.
On September 15 Baroda in Gujarat again saw communal violence erupt on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi in which one person was killed as police opened fire. As usual Ganesh procession became the cause of violence. Three shops below a mosque were burnt down. One Rajesh Pawar was arrested by the police for not obeying its orders to wind up procession in time. Similarly three shops below a mandir was also burnt down by the rioters.
Thane near Mumbai erupted on 1st October on the question of installing a gate for Ganesh mandap in the Rabodi area of Thane. One person was killed and 65 injured of which 39 were policemen. Property worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed. DCP Sahebrao Patil was suspended for failing to control the situation by Home Minister R.R.Patil of Maharashtra. Police fired 80 rounds to control rampaging mobs in which one Mohsin Khan (25) was killed. There was widespread destruction of properties and Muslims suffered much more comparatively.
Dhule in Marashtra went up in flames on 5th October. It all started when the VHP put up anti-terrorist posters which were highly provocative with anti-Muslim slant. Some Muslim Youth allegedly tore off some posters and it sparked trouble. It was also very major communal riot though human lives lost were comparatively few i.e. 9 people died and 70 persons injured but more than 230 houses were set on fire. Most of the houses belonging to Muslims were blasted with gas cylinders. The police as usual either remained mere spectators or helped rioters. The maximum economic losses were suffered by Bohra businessmen who are mostly businessmen. There shops were looted and goods carted away allegedly right under the eyes of policemen. One Bohra businessman alone suffered loss of more than a crore (ten million rupees). The then Home Minister R.R.Patil visited Dhulia but did not visit Muslim areas which had suffered major losses. Several Muslim families were completely ruined. Whereas they lost properties and houses worth lakhs of rupees compensation given to them was ridiculous seven and half thousand.
Assam though faced with terrorist problem at the hands of ULFA was free of communal violence except terrible riots in Neili district in 1983 when 4000 Bengali Muslims were killed. On October 9 however, some districts in Assam went up in flames 100 persons were reported to be dead. It was between Bodos and Muslims. The Sangh Parivar has made deep inroads into these districts and is trying to capture North East also and its pet project is to communalise the region to create its base.
According to official sources 47 people were killed but non-official sources maintain it has exceeded 100. though it is said the rioting spark came through some misunderstanding between Bodos and Muslims when reportedly a Bodo on security duty was killed in a Muslim village while on night watch but in fact it was a well planned riot. A green flag hoisting from a mosque was described as Pakistani flag and it was maintained that Assamese Muslims are pro-Pakistan. This was obviously BJP planted stories to spark off trouble. Like in Gujarat in 2002 a pregnant woman was killed during the riots. More than one and half lakh people had to take refuge in refugee camps. In refugee camps also there was constant fear that miscreants might set them to fire. There were no policemen around and hence this fear. Since most of he Assamese Muslims wear lungi and sport beard and cap, they are dubbed as Bangla Deshis and attacked. Before the riot skirmishes were going on between Muslims and Bodos.
Burhanpur in M.P. was affected by communal flare up on 10th October in which 10 persons died of which 3 died in police firing. Rioting started on Friday after noon prayer near Jama Masjid when provocative slogans were raised. About 18 shops and 15 houses were burnt by the miscreants.
On 12th October Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh witnessed communal violence in which 6 persons in a house were burnt alive which included 3 children. Communal violence broke out in Bhensa town also which is in Adilabad district. CPM accused RSS and its front organizations for Bhensa and Adilabad riots. Even Christians were attacked in Bhainsa town by RSS activists.
Latur in Mahrashtra witnessed communal violence on 29th December resulting in death of 2 persons in Pangaon of Latur district. Several Muslims fled from Pangaon and took refuge in nearby villages.
This is brief account of riots that took place in India during unfortunate year of 2008. It proved to be worse than 2007. It is unfortunate and shameful that so many riots take place every year in our country and hundreds loose their lives. Neither government is serious about checkmating these riots nor we have strong secular institutions in our country. Our whole polity has been communalized and communal parties, along with secular parties are responsible for these riots. All our institutions have been affected by communal outlook. Police and administration has been deeply affected. RSS infiltration has taken place in all our institutions.
Let us hope 2009 proves little better.
————————————————-
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
Mumbai.
E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in
As the state weakens, people suffer. Might is right has become the principle of ‘Nationalism’. It is unfortunate that the preaching of democracy is done by us Indians as if we have got one fully operational. For most of us, India is shinning and we do not bother for the 60+% who are hungry. Only strong people can build strong nation. The militaristic rhetoric and blame will not go far as we find that this very rhetoric is used internally. The mobocracy and muzzling of dissent has been a worrying point recently. If we do not pay heed to these factors, we shall not be able to hold back any external aggression. The internal falut lines are the undoing of any nation and unfortunately we are progressing very fast on this path. The more we bother about ourselves and the nation simultaneously, then only there can be any hope. The ‘haves’ need to think more about the ‘have nots’ and not for the goodies which are imported on ‘tax free’ invoices.
If Muslims practice Islam, they can have a role model for the ignorant majority i.e Hindu community. Let the Muslim pay more than the obligatory ‘zakaat’ and employ the ‘unemployed’ in private enterprise so that the grassroot is established firmly. The same ‘contribution’ can be utlised for educating the masses. A blue collar job should not be singled out as achievement, which we are racing for.
If Muslims build themselves up, there will not be any hesitation on the part of a vast majority of Hindus who are ignorant and need the guidance of Light. For this, the Muslims need to practice Islamic Fundamentals.
WOW! The Verdict is out. So Mr.Engineer has given a clean chit to fundamentalist Christian( esp. the Pentacostal ones) and Muslim fundamentalist organisations. There is saying in Hindi”Taali ek haanth se nahin bajti hai”.
I noticed this one and several past articles on this issue of mistrust of the police, and discrimination / bias. May I humbly repeat my request to get serving or recently retired police officers to post on this blog and to engage in the comment thread.
If 26/11 teaches us anything, maybe it is to work towards having a much smaller list for 2009. And for that its not enough IMHO to keep up this particular tack of reporting. Please engage with the police or others to start some new conversations.
Thanks,
Jai
PS: BTW did anyone else notice, that in quite a few cases, there is a leading “provocation” mentioned that causes IM youth to “retaliate” in riots/ violence, whenever the actual violence starts therefrom. And apparently all the violence from the IH guys was pre-planned and unprovoked.
Even at the altitudes this blog operates at, a semi-endorsement of “retaliation” seems to persist
… and I havent found a higher-aiming blog on IMs yet.
That is the case ‘exactly’ Mr Jai_C….. I do not find a single Hindu youth picked up for mere suspicion and the reality is that the officials shiled them to hilt. Even in today’s newspapers, a Hindu man who happened to be member of a outlaw Hindu gang has been reported as a ‘criminal’ who was invloved in planting bombs in Hubli-Dharwad because he wanted to exact a revenge on the supposedly ‘Indian Mujahideens’. Now, the concern is that he may scotfree because the cases against him would be withdrwan (many are registered against his name) and he will be as clean as a man who has taken a dip in Ganges. If, the state abdicates its responsibility in enforcing law and order, such type of people will style themselves as ‘Nationalists’, whatever may be the meaning of this word. If any Fundamentalist Christian organisation need to be reported, let the authorities do the needful. In these cases, we have our godfathers viz Sarkozy and Pope to ask for these political needs from alien soil and unfortunately the dispensations pay heed to the same. Let me remind all of you that the Supreme Court has warned the Orissa government to protect its minorities or leave office. When will be the day when same would be asked of the many ‘Gujarats’ in India. Sadly, we do not care for any voice on ‘non Christian’ matters from outside and event the apez court has been reported to ask for review of an applciation before admitting it in case of Indian Muslim Organisations. An application regarding the glaring proof of CBI letting RSS elements from Nanded bomb blasts and killing of makers was put up to the Supreme Court and the court instead of admitting it asked the applicant to resubmit it with details as if the said organisation is an investigation agency. The very purpose of the application in question was to ask the agency in question to investigate the case with impartiality which, all of us know, it did not, till Karkare did it. Unfortunately, the State saw ‘red’ in asking one of its own Cabinet Minister asking for a thorough probe. If a minister in national cabinet is so ‘powerless’ what can be thought of a common poor man who does not have money and know no english?
As far as your requirement of ‘higher-aiming’ blog on IM is concerned, let me remind that the numerous ‘Hindu’ blogs do not allow any dissenting ideas on their pages set aside any non-Hindu names.
Dear Mr.Naqqaad,
Two of your statements stand out –
“If Muslims practice Islam, they can have a role model for the IGNORANT MAJORITY i.e Hindu community.”
“……there will not be any hesitation on the part of a vast majority of Hindus who are IGNORANT and need the guidance of Light.”
First can you tell me ignorant in terms of what? And secondly it would be nice if you show some LIGHT to your enlightened Jihadi brethren in Pakistan and elsewhere.And finally, a friendly piece of advice, don’t get yourself an overdose of Dr.Zakir Naik! Talk about pluralism in Islam!!
“If Muslims practice Islam, they can have a role model for the IGNORANT MAJORITY i.e Hindu community.”
“……there will not be any hesitation on the part of a vast majority of Hindus who are IGNORANT and need the guidance of Light.”For this, the Muslims need to practice Islamic Fundamentals.
These statements have a implict message in them regarding Islam’s superiority over other religions ….and its precisely people like you and many others …who can never respect other religions or be a part of plural society like ours …your fundamentals are wrong
“If Muslims practice Islam, they can have a role model for the IGNORANT MAJORITY i.e Hindu community.”
“……there will not be any hesitation on the part of a vast majority of Hindus who are IGNORANT and need the guidance of Light.”
How gratuitous…how condescending !! It is people like Naqqaad who irk ordinary Hindus and drive them to dislike Muslims.
The strength of the liberalism or tolerance of any society can be measured on how it treats atheists. They get along just fine in India.
Other communities should get along just fine as well, as long as politics is not mixed into their personal religious beliefs.
May be it is time we called the communal violence in India by its correct name : political violence. It has more to do with politics than with religion.
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon you all)….
My dear Brothers and Sister, We as Muslims do respect all the religion in the world, if any Muslim has commented anything against other religion then it should not be taken as the view of Islam, if we Muslims starts doing that then after all the riot or the from the statements and action of VHP, RSS, BJP, ABVP, SHIV SENA and others, we should blame Hinduism and we should saying that they think they are superior and they don’t respect other religion, no we can’t do that because we understand what is religion and what is politics….
If you wanna know about any religion, then see what the books of that particular religion says and not what the follower of the religion follow or do….
I haven’t even read the above post, i don’t have any interest to read a personal opinion on bloodiest riots on our Mother Land….
We as a country needs to keep a side politics and thing and follow our particular religion….
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from
error”
[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
There is no compulsion in religion, which means we can’t force anyone to follow our religion “Islam” nor they can do that and yes Truth will stand and people will come to know which religion is from Allah(swt)…..
Surah Ali Imran Chapter 3 Verse 64:
Say “O People Of the Book!
Come to common terms
As between us and you:
That we worship none but Allah;
That we associate no partners with Him;
That we erect not, From among ourselves,
Lords and patrons other than Allah.”
If then they turn back,
Say ye: “Bear witness That we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing To Allah’s Will).’
(Al Qur’an 3:64)
Here Allah(swt) clearly says come to common terms as between us and you, which means we can talk about common terms and yes we can have dialogue……
I Hope people here start having Dialogues rather then Fight….Aameen
Jai Hind
Allah Hafiz…
If we all work equally as Indians for building the nation, we will not have time for rioting, nor will we have that kind of animosity.
One resolution of 2009 should be to work seriously towards this.
I am sorry but there is a dispute about Ram temple and one side (RSS, etc) believes they must build Temple there. Now , is it banned for anyone to say “we will build temple there”.,or simply because they belong to a community , their freedom of speech is taken away, atleast their use of freedom of speech is seen as a cause for riot and they are blamed for the riot itself.
Why should the other party to the dispute(muslims here) should react violently starting a riot , in response to something that is perfectly legal, and comes under freedom of speech. Aren’t they the ones to be blamed for riot(or may be we shouldn’t because in a Indian variety of secularism what matters is not fact but the screwed up secular rule, always blame majority). First they are solely blamed for riots and then they will even be compared to terrorists, for what, simply saying some stuff, that is perfectly legal?
Avenging for Godhra is no doubt wrong, but when did we come to the conclusion it is perfectly fine to avenge somebody exercising their rights, only because you don’t like what they are saying. If say BJPwalas go and sing infront of congress camp some election victory song, are congresswalas allowed to start violence.
“after the death of Laxmananda Saraswati, a VHP activist who was busy converting tribals and dalits to Hinduism”
Again , I don’t condone violence in Orissa, but what does this mean. He deserved death because , he was busy converting?
God , very sub-standard writing or brazen lack of objectivity?
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It is interesting how you put the onus of communal violence erupting on members of the Hindu Community with a singular focus. Members of the Muslim community get incited and violence follows because of some people urinating at a bus stop near a mosque – (a very bad thing to do but definitely not violent), it is all the Hindus fault for ‘inciting’, but when you talk of people getting killed in Tensaki town of South Tamil Nadu as a result of the murder of a local Hindu Leader – the onus of violence is not on the incitement but on the retaliation.
It is exactly this kind of doublespeak and blame-fixing in making a case for the other side always in the wrong, in all quarters in Indian society, which drives all the strife. Why should ‘incitement’ be an excuse for anybody to resort to violence, but that is what is constantly rationalized in our society because for all practical purpose the law draw no lines of acceptable behaviour by all parties concerned that are even handedly enforced such that resorting to violence is not seen an excuse for finding justice.
In practice depending on who holds the clout, violaters of all persuasions go scot free. Not only do they go free, but find advocates for their actions who will trivialize the violence on their side but condemn it in the strongest words for who they regard as the adversary – as reflected in your tone and discussion on the events in Orissa, where you seem to trivialize, almost justify the murder of Laxmananda Sarawati – who was ‘busy’ converting tribals and dalits to Hinduism (can’t understand how you convert dalits to Hinduism since there is no other religion where apparently there are suppose to be dalits – caste system being a hindu thing). Had it been killing of a Christian Missionary – AN EQUALLY WRONG ACT IN MY BOOK – for busily converting Hindus through fraud and bribe – making economic help conditional to conversion, I can almost guarantee, you would be condemning it in the strongest terms as oppression of minorities. (BTW – how do you feel about conversion of muslims to Christianity by brainwashing about ‘Jesus as the only savior of all – all else is false’ line let alone the unchristian practice of fraud and bribery to rope in gullible, poor muslims).
Also, it is interesting that killing of Hindus in apparent acts of communal strife is somehow always an accident or a mystery and nobody’s responsibility in the so-called ‘secular’ mind but there is crystal clear attribution of responsibility when muslims and christians are killed, and the response of those setting themselves as spokespersons for Hindu’s is exactly the opposite. What would be wrong with a de-politicized police force which can investigate without consideration to who gets pissed off with their fact-finding, Hindu majority or muslim, christian minority to call a spade a spade, and a mischief maker a mischief maker regardless of what their affiliation is. The tragedy is de-politicization of law enforcement is NOT what leaders and opinion makers in different communities are asking for – everybody is pressing for politicization of police in the favor of whoever they identify with so somehow whenever the findings of an investigation are adversarial to ones own position – the whine is police is taking sides. When the police issues statements that are favorable to what one has already decided to believe, that is the gospel truth, presented as facts that cannot be disputed.
It seems to be from Mr. Engineer’s article that there is not really a concern for the bane of communal violence per say to have an unbiased discussion to understand the dynamics so that we as people can find and press for just ways to prevent it. It seems to be from this article that the thinking is that communal riots is only worth any discussion in the context of presenting the side you identify with as the hapless victim – very disingenuous.
It is very difficult to pin the blame on any particular community for a communal riot. It is not a question of majority or minority, in different circumstances, it different comunities take the lead.
What is important is not to assign blame, which is a post facto act that does not help in any way. More important is that the state machinery is geared in a way to prevent communal riots, or at least contain them rapidly.
Milind:
That state machinery needs to be geared to prevent or contain communal riots with even handed and honest enforcement of order is what is referred to in the second last para of my post. The rest of my post is in response to the blame fixing tone of Mr. Engineer’s article that needs to be called on and highlighted for all sides in the hopes that there is movement away from this mindset.
Milind,
So do you agree riots and terrorism are two very different phenomena and rioters shoudn’t be branded as terrorists? Riots are always two – way, but terrorism there is a clear victim and an agressor. No doubt, they both are very damaging to society.
Ram
While rioteers and terrorists are two different phenomenon, they both should be removed from the system. One is a parasite and the other is a virus. The rioteers are especially vile because they are moral perverts who vent their bestial instincts under the excuse of religion. Someone’s terrorist could be someone’s freedom fighters, the the rioting perverts of the likes of Bajrang Dal and Ram Sena are always anti-social parasites feeding off our apathy and inaction. Freaks like them can gradually become more dangerous if ignored. In Gujrat they committed rapes and killed pregnant ladies in their defence of religion. Terrorists on the other hand are professional killing machines with a twisted sense of right and wrong.
@Ram, Unar:- All riots (infact pogroms) are started by hindutva groups either by incitation or by mischief making activities. And all so called riots are systematically planned under police protection. So theres no question anywhere blaming the victims for starting the riots. Its devoid of logic. Though minorities should keep themselves away from getting charged and play into communal hands but minorities cant be blamed for that. The points of urniating somewhere or raising illegal slogans becoming reasons for riots started by minorities are totally false, as they are all well planned to target certain communities.
sshama,
We can sit and imagine all cospiracies, but there is a problem. To your inconvenience, there are people who ask for evidence in support of such conspiracies.
How about Gujarat 2002, are we going to say can’t blame them they were victims of Godhra? Not me, however outrageous godhra was, guj 2002 wasn’t the right response and can’t blame someone else for their actions.
What illegal slogans are you talking about? They are unacceptable to some , but those are not illegal.
How about Hyderabad riots or riots in Marad? are they too started by Hindutva groups? How about riots by Razakars? started by them? It is not as simple as you would want to beleive it to be. All problems have two sides to it. Blaming only one group or condemning and repeatedly emphisizing only one set of incidents and trying to avoid mentioning others doesn’t help solve the problem.
Sudie,
“Someone’s terrorist could be someone’s freedom fighters,”
You negated Gandhi so well. wonderful. Which freedom fighters are we exactly talking about, that India branded as terrorists?
I already mentioned in my comments.
“No doubt, they both are very damaging to society.”
so what was the need for lecture.Jihad that is being fought by taliban is also freaky and perverted , on top of it terroristic with international ramifications and territorial ambitions.
All , i am saying is we shouldn’t mix them up. We need different strategies and set of laws to deal with them.
They differ on scale of opertaions, extent of damage they do , financial backup, network size and politico-religious ambitions. They both are undesirable, but they cause different degrees of concern and draw different amounts of attention and resources in opposition.