Communal Violence in India

Why in the News?

            Cases of Communal violence have been registered in Nuh and Mewat of Haryana has raised the issue of communal violence, triggered by clashes that erupted during a Hindu religious procession in a Muslim dominated region of Nuh.

Communal violence in India:

1. It involves people belonging to two different religious communities mobilised against each other mainly based on hatred, enmity and revenge.
2. Over 2,900 cases of communal or religious rioting were registered in the country between 2017- 2021.

Reasons for the communal violence:

1. Circulation of fake news and rumours having the potential of inciting violence.
2. Feelings of hostility, emotional fury, exploitation due to historical reasons or stereotyped images of religious communities. For instance, partition of the state/ country, influx of refugees in the past resulted in deterioration of the present residents of the region.
3. Social discrimination and social neglect are especially cited as an issue faced by religious minorities in the country.
4. Lack of tolerance and acceptance to beliefs and practices of other religious faith.
5. Indifference to and passive acceptance of the activities of religious organisations without any element of introspection or analysis.
6. Use of religious element in the context of politics to garner vote banks leading to alienation of other religious groups, thus seeding enmity.
7. Economic exploitation and discrimination of minority religious communities.

Way forward:

1. Imposing stringent law and order as per secular law.
2. Inter-religious harmony must be established at the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and ideological levels, for long-term peace and cohesion among religious communities.
3. Peace committees shall be established mandatorily in all areas and the meeting frequency should be increased.
4. Civil societies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must render assistance in restoring ordinary people’s trust in their neighbourhoods, police, and local administration.
5. The interests if the minorities have to be safeguarded to be free from fear and hostility, the main factors causing resentment among religious groups.
6. Awareness and education among people have to be generated about misguiding politicians taking religion as a political advantage.