Provocative Slogans, Music In Front Of Mosques: Ram Navami Processions Result In Violence In Several States

Anti-Muslim violence was reported from several states on Sunday as Hindu groups took out processions to mark Ram Navami. Videos circulating on social media show provocative slogans raised and songs played in Muslim areas and in front of mosques, leading to clashes.

Madhya Pradesh

Curfew has been imposed in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh after violence erupted during the Ram Navami procession in the city.

Khargone district collector Anugrah P. said Section 144 o(banning assembly of four or more people) has been imposed in the entire city. “Curfew has been clamped in three areas including Talab Chowk and Tavdi in the city,” he said.

“When the Ram Navami procession started from the Talab Chowk area stones were allegedly pelted at the gathering, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to control the situation. The procession was supposed to take a round of Khargone city but it was abandoned midway after the violence,” additional collector S.S. Mujalde said, according to NDTV.

Videos show a procession taken through a Muslim-majority neighbourhood while playing religious music on loudspeakers.

As per reports, the procession was being taken through a Muslim neighbourhood, and a verbal confrontation ensued between the two groups over the playing of music.

Reports on social media show the administration destroying Muslim houses with JCB machines.

Gujarat

Violence was reported in the towns of Khambhat and Himmatnagar in Gujarat, which has left one person dead. Shops and vehicles were set ablaze after an alleged incident of stone-pelting between the two communities. Videos have surfaced that show Hindutva mobs carrying swords and Muslim shrines having been attacked and set to fire in Himmatnagar.

The Minority Coordination Committee, an Ahmedabad-based rights organisation, has written to the Gujarat director general police asking for increased security and to take action against those who disturb peace. “We demand action against anti-social elements who in the garb of the religious programmes had been trying to disrupt peace and harmony in Gujarat. All CCTV footage in Himmatnagar should be checked and those caught carrying weapons without permission should be booked and arrested,” Indian Express quoted the letter as saying.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, curfew has been imposed in the city of Kolar after violence erupted over another alleged incident of stone pelting at Shobha Yatra. In Raichur, provocative songs were played in front of Osmania Masjid.

West Bengal

 In Siliguri, anti-Muslim songs were played in the background as the Ram Navami rally went on.

Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, BJP MLA Raja Singh made provocative statements. Standing on top of a truck that was playing music during the rally, Raja Singh sang, “Jo Ram ke naam na le, unko Bharat se bhagana hain (Those who don’t take the name of Ram, we have to chase them out of India)”.

Bihar

In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, a group of Hindu men holding saffron flags and swords were seen chanting slogans outside a mosque. A man is seen climbing the mosque wall.

These incidents indicate an organized attempt of various Hindutva outfits throughout the country to provoke and intimidate Muslims. It seems apparent that one of the aims of these events is to deliberately elicit a response from Muslims, which could then further serve as a justification for them to unleash their violence upon the community. 

Lately, the phenomenon of mob violence has found a systematic and regular expression in the form of religious processions. Accompanied by either support or inaction from the legal authorities, these events are, regrettably, serving as an ideal occasion for Hindutva outfits to create violence and communal unrest throughout the country.