Abdul Bari Masoud studies the incidents of communal violence in Kolhapur and other places of Maharashtra and outrageous communal rhetoric made by no less than Deputy Chief Minister of the state Devendra Fadnavisas well as how and why the communal violence erupted in the state ruled by Shiv Sena (Shinde)-BJP, an alliance which has been termed by the Supreme Court as ‘illegal’. He also touches similar incidents in another BJP-ruled state, Uttarakhand, where Muslims were given open ultimatum to shut their businesses and quit.
It appears that the Hindutva bandwagon has been running amok throughout all of Maharashtra, whether there have been any “provocative” social media messages or not. Even Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis is indulging in communal rhetoric and speaking a language that does not behove his office.
In recent months, many instances of violent incidents involving Dalits, Adivasis and religious minorities were reported in the state. The outbreak of communal violence in the peaceful city of Kolhapur merely on the pretext of using pictures of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and Mysore king Tipu Sultan in social media posts is shocking.
Political analysts attributed the worsening communal situation in the state to the growing unpopularity of the state government led by Shiv Sena (Shinde)-BJP as it is staring defeat inthe coming elections. Thisgovernment (which was installed after engineering defection in Shiv Sena) has been termed by the Supreme Court as “illegal”. It has allegedly given free hand to these divisive Hindutva groups.
According to an English newspaper, “Since November, under the banner of the amorphous Sakal Hindu Samaj, an umbrella body with no single leader or organisation, and many outfits linked to the Sangh Parivar, ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh’morchas or rallies have been held across the state’s districts. Their stated agenda: To press for laws against ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad’.
“The attendance of BJP and (Shinde) Sena leaders, MLAs, and office-bearers at many of these rallies and the climate of impunity in which hate speeches are made and minority-baiting takes place, frame an attempt by the BJP to corner its main rival for the Hindutva vote, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena. In the process, it also frames a curious phenomenon – of the BJP, indirectly and in local contexts, mobilising on the streets in ways that threaten the rule of law, to press its demands in a state where its own government is in power.”
Rights group Peoples Union of Civil Liberties Maharashtra unit prepared a detailed report on the communal incidents in the state. It expressed serious concern over the manner in which vested interests are spreading hate and inciting caste and communal violence with impunity in Maharashtra.
According to thePUCL report, itis shocked and disturbed over the outbreak of communal violence in Kolhapur earlier this week and the killing of a Dalit youth in Nanded last week and strongly condemns the manner in which vested interests are stoking caste and communal conflicts in Maharashtra. These are just the latest in a series of incidents of violence against religious minorities, Dalits and Adivasis reported in the state.
On June 2, 2023, Akshay SharavanBhalerao, a Dalit youth and active member of a local Ambedkarite group, was stabbed to death by nine persons, as he had taken a leading role in organising a rally to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti in Bhondar in Nanded district on April 30, 2023. Bhalerao, who had gone to a grocery store, was attacked by members of a marriage procession.
On June 7, 2023, in Kolhapur, a large mob, mainly comprising youth owning allegiance to various pro-Hindutva organisations, had assembled at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk in Kolhapur, in response to a bandh call by some groups, to protest social media posts that shared posters of the 17th century Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the 18th century Mysore king Tipu Sultan.
When violence by the Hindutva goons was still on and the local law and order establishment under Fadnavis was yet to analyse the causes of the violence, he declared: sawal yeh uthtahaikeAchanakItni Aurangzeb ki auladenkahan se paidahogayi? Iskepeechekonhai? (The question arises that suddenly from where have so many Aurangzeb’s offspring born? And who is behind them?)
This shocking and scandalous statement of Devendra Fadnavis can only be described as crazy, toxic and motivated by deep communal prejudice, said noted historian Prof Shamsul Islam.Speaking with Radiance, he further said,“This kind of language is learned in Hindutva boudhikshivirs(intellectual training camps) and does not augur well for the stability of constitutional set-up in Maharashtra. It is sad that failure of the home department in controlling the excesses of the Hindutva zealots is being covered up by using the Hindutva rhetoric. Fadnavis, if fond of use of dog-whistle to browbeat the whole of Muslim minority in Maharashtra, must resign as home minister and join the Hindutva street hoodlums.”
The Indian Express wrote a strong-wordededitorial saying, “Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis railing against citizens he calls “Aurangzeb ki aulad”, following communal tension and violence in Kolhapur sparked by allegedly provocative social media posts earlier this week, is outrageous – and a matter of deep disquiet.
“For the Deputy Chief Minister to speak this language of blatant prejudice in a moment that calls for sagacity and restraint is an abdication of the responsibility vested in his high office.”
Teaching a lesson of history as to who is the progeny of Mughal, Prof Shamsul Islam said,“Hindutva zealots like Fadnavis must know that the ‘Islamic’ rule of Aurangzeb or Mughal rule survived due to the Hindu high castes joining the ‘Muslim’ rulers in running their empires with few exceptions.”
Like Fadnavis, another BJP leader has dubbed NCP leader Sharad Pawar “the incarnation of Aurangzeb”.
Apart from the Kolhapur incident, the state has witnessed communal violence at several other places as well.Media reports quoting police officers state that these posters were allegedly displayed in an Urs procession of Dam Bara Hazari Baba dargah in Fakirwada area of Ahmednagar around 9.15 pm on June 4, 2023. Following the news of this incident, the Sakal Hindu Samaj took out a rally called the ‘Bhavya Bhagwa Morcha’ in Sangamner town in Ahmednagar. At the rally, communal hate speech and calls to incite violence against Muslims were reportedly made. Stone pelting and the vandalising of vehicles were reported in Samnapur village of Sangamner.Earlier, on May 28, 2023, a minor traffic issue in Sangamner had escalated into a communal clash. On May 15-16, 2023, violent clashes also took place in Akola and Shevgaon town in Ahmednagar, after a procession was taken out to mark the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
It must be noted that divisive forces are making all attempts to break peoples’ unity. Indeed, barely two weeks ago, on May 24, 2023 the Tanpir Dargah or the Hazrat Peer ShahaduddinKhatal Shah Wali Dargah shrine at the historical Panhalgad Fort in Kolhapur district was vandalised by unidentified miscreants but local residents from both communities immediately came forward to repair the damage and ensure that peace prevails in the area. Indeed, the courageous efforts by citizens to preserve and protect the syncretic traditions of the region, known for the progressive values nurtured by Shahu Maharaj, must be encouraged and strengthened.
PUCL Maharashtra is gravely concerned at these repeated conflagrations following public meetings and morchas organised by Hindutva organisations like the Sakal Hindu Samaj on divisive topics and spreading communal propaganda like love jihad, land jihad, alleging forced conversion and cow slaughter and calling for economic and social boycott of Muslims and violence. Despite court orders regulating these gatherings and directing police to take action to prevent and prosecute hate speech, these organisations operate with impunity to provoke violence and instability. The government is purportedly supporting organisations that stir communal tensions while simultaneously on a mission to rename ancient towns and cities with Muslim names.
Summing up the prevailing situation in the state, Shaikh Nizamuddin, Asst Gen Secretary, All India Milli Council, told Radiance that this government is trying to turn Maharashtra into a north Indian state (UP).
Nizamuddin, who resides in Solapur, which is a neighbouring district of Kolhapur, said one Sanjay Bhide based in Sangli is allegedly making controversial and provocative comments all the time but no action has been taken against him. Referring to the Kolhapur incidents and elsewhere, he underlined that backward classes youths are being used as the foot-soldiers by disruptive forces.
I won’t hold the RSS and its ilk much responsible; instead, I will point the finger at the so-called secular forces that fail to educate these youths and counter their nefarious ideology, he said.
He further emphasised that the Muslim leadership in the Congress and NCP is feeble and does not speak out against the crimes committed against community members.
He said that Hassan Musharraf, a current NCP MLA from Kagal in the Sangli district and a former state minister, said that Muslim youths who had been charged under Section 153A for posting images of Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan should be socially boycotted rather than supported.
PUCL Maharashtra President Mihir Desaisaid the increasing incidents of violence area fallout of the inaction of the police and state to prevent hate speeches, prosecute offenders and ensure law and order in Maharashtra.
In another BJP-ruled state, Uttarakhand, Muslim minority is targeted on one pretext or the other.On the pretext of a fake “love jihad” incident, in Purola town of Uttarkashi district, Muslims were given open ultimatum to shut their businesses and leave the town while the government adopted a cryptic silence.