Hindu-Muslim Clashes Across India, Some One-Sided Violence Too, By Hindu Supremacist Groups

Hindu-Muslim clashes have been reported from Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar among other states on occasion of Ram Navami an important Hindu festival. (Reports, more reports)

In most cases Hindu supremacist-extremist groups taking out Ram Navami processions in trucks, motorcycles and on foot along with music, DJ, and public dancing reportedly deliberately made provocative anti-Muslim slogans/songs/speeches leading to stone pelting from the Muslim side. Social media viral videos show Ram Navami procession taken to footsteps of mosques and anti-Muslim slogans/speeches/songs were blared from loudspeakers along with public dancing.

Ram Navami is a solemn occasion of Puja Paath, why does it need a public procession? Why do such processions need anti-Muslim slogans/songs, DJ on a loudspeaker, and public dancing? Since when did these become part of the Ram Navami rituals? These are questions the Hindu supremacist groups must answer. Why are they using the Ram Navami occasion to flex muscle and oppress the minorities?

While mainstream media constantly reports “communal clashes” not everything is a “clash”. Several one-sided violence have been reported in last 7–10 days where Hindu supremacist-extremist groups attacked, vandalized and forcefully shut down meat shops owned by Muslims during the 9 days of Ram Navami. There were no provocation and retaliation but a sheer display of violent dominance and oppression.

According to this Indian Express, meat shops in Najafgarh area ‘forcibly’ closed by Hindu Sena men. Even though police said there were no complaints and shops were already shut, Hindu Sena spokespersons confirm they did it. The victim refused to be named.

Hindu Sena further said, “We want these shops to be shut only for nine days to respect sentiments of Hindus.” They are using violence to force others to do what they want. This is the text book definition of terrorism and armed conflict.

A Mayor in Delhi also aided and abated these violence by passing an arbitrary verbal order of shutting down meat shops for 9 days even though there is no law in the country which allows this and online food delivery platforms, restaurants and bars were all allowed to sell meat and they did. The said ban was not even passed in writing and nobody has seen the official communication and yet meat shops in South Delhi either remained shut out of fear and confusion or forced shut by Hindu-Extremist groups.

Days preceding Ram Navami several Hindu religious leaders also made provocative and violent anti-Muslim speeches making rape threats to Muslim women among other things. No arrests so far. For months on, there has also been anti-Muslim campaigns targeting their business, right to make a living, food style, and as far as the language Urdu, because the origin of the language is believed to be in Muslim people. Anti-Muslim speeches, forced impositions of Hindu religious symbols, practices, food etc. upon the rest of India while simultaneously opposing Muslim practices and symbols has become a routine. In most cases BJP-RSS members/legislators are aiding and abetting these tensions.

India is now in a state of constant armed conflict.

Yet, not a single prominent civil society member, NGO, intellectual, industrialist or liberal mouthpieces have spoken up against the arbitrary meat ban or Ram Navami clashes. Opposition party leaders have also maintained silence with the sole exception of Indian National Congress party’s Rahul Gandhi.

It cannot be gazed yet what percentage of Indian population is actually affected by these, because it’s a large country, such reports mostly go unnoticed. It is also claimed that both Hindu and Muslim extremists are deliberately creating the conflict, while common people are suffering.

Whatever may be, Indian seems to be in a continuous state of armed conflict between the dominant group and religious minorities aided and abated by Hindu supremacist organization RSS which was formed in 1930s directly inspired by the Nazi party and its political arm BJP which is currently ruling India for 8th year in the running.