Haryana violence is unfortunate

Omkar Dattatray

India is a secular, plural and a diverse country where there are diversities of religion, caste, creed and language. There are much diversities so far as the culinary habits of the people are concerned. But there is unity in diversity in the country and all the communities live in peace and security. This unity in diversity is the greatest treasure of India. All have the opportunity to grow up to the fullest possibility and every religion is free to propagate its religion and celebrate its festivals. The fact is that we celebrate the religious festivals jointly and greet each other on these festivals.

But this diversity is exploited by the cunning politicians and they use these diversities to arouse the feelings of communal hatred and  this leads to communal violence and strife sometimes and pollutes the peaceful atmosphere .The communal violence ,strife and clashes which took place in Haryana’s Nuh ,Faridabad ,Gurugram and some other places is savage ,shameful and hair –raising .This violence is unprecedented and has no place in our secular and plural country and it deserves to be condemned by one and all .Thus all the political parties should unequivocally condemn current communal violence with one voice and strongly .

Steps should be taken so that communal violence does not take place in future .Political parties and politician’s should desist from politicking on communal violence .The political parties should cooperate with the government to curb communal violence .Both the majority community and the minority communities should honor and revere the religious festivals of each other and celebrate these festivals jointly .The pelting of stones on the Shoba Yatra in Nuh is very unfortunate and against the secular ethos and culture of the country .The reports say that the stoning of the religious procession of Hindus was well planned and it was the result of a deliberate plan of action .

So it is alleged that pelting of stones of hatred on the religious procession in Nuh was preplanned and thus it was the conspiracy to create communal violence in Haryana .The BJP government of Manohar Khatter should probe all the angles and also investigate and to expose if the communal clashes and stoning was preplanned and a conspiracy. The government should act fast and identify the culprits who are involved in fomenting communal trouble and put them behind bars .Besides speedy judicial trail should be conducted to give stringent punishment to all those found involved in the communal riots.

Much loss of public and private property and burning of the cars ,scooty’s and other two-wheelers has been reported from  various places of Haryana including Nuh ,Faridabad ,Gurugram and some other places .It is important to crush this communal violence before it spreads to other peaceful areas of Haryana and to the neighboring states. The situation became tense in Gurugram and other places after the Shoba Yatra was stoned in Nuh and the news of this unfortunate news spread like a wild fire .Within no time there was stone pelting ,Firing ,and  burning in various parts of the state .In this violence  a home guard personnel was killed and several jawans were injured in the clashes and rioting .

At the first place 20 civilians got wounded .To control the communal violence in Gurugram ,Faridabad ,Nuh and  Palwal adequate security forces were deployed to control the violence .For controlling the violent mob ,police used tear gas .In Sohana and Badashapur the situation was very tense and bad and thus two companies of RAF were deployed in these two places .Four people ,including two Home Guards were killed ,and at least 30 others injured in clashes that broke between two groups in Haryana .The clashes started during a religious procession in Haryana’s Nuh ,adjoining Gurugram .

The Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra ,organized by VHP ,was stopped by a group of young men on Gurugram- Alwar Natiuonal Highway .As the violence escalated ,government and private vehicles were targeted by the violent mob .Towards evening ,violence spread to the Gurugram-Sohana highway ,where several cars were torched and stones were thrown at police. .About 2500 people ,who has come to Nuh to take part in the procession were forced to take shelter in a temple due to violence outside .Incidents of stone throwing and arson were reported from parts of Palwal and Gurugram as well .Section 44 was imposed in Gurugram ,Palwal and Faridabad .

At the first instant police had registered about 20 cases and detained more than 20 people in connection with communal violence .Internet services have been suspended in Nuh temporarily to contain the intense communal tension and stop the spread of misinformation and rumors. There are reports that clash was triggered  by an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist .Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other leaders appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony. ’’Today’s incident is unfortunate .I appeal to all the people to maintain peace in the state .The guilty will not be spared at any cost ,and strictest action will be taken against them. ’’said chief minister .Security around religious places in violence-hit districts has been a strengthened .

Both the police and administration are holding meetings with prominent members of both communities to ensure peace and it is a good thing .The death toll in the communal violence rose to six on Wednesday .Rapid Action force (RAF) personnel conducted a flag march in Gurugram’s Badshahpur on Wednesday following the clashes that broke out in Nuh district .Security has been strengthened in the districts adjoining Nuh –Faridabad ,Palwal ,and Gurugram in the light of violence that broke out between the two communities on July 31.Section 144 has been imposed for 48 hours from Monday midnight in Nuh and mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended in the district .

Haryana chief minister M.L,Khattar said he suspected  a conspiracy behind Monday’s clashes and called the incident unfortunate and said clashes broke out at several places and that a big conspiracy seems behind the violence .Congress says that it is an administrative failure on the part of the government which led to this incident .Had they acted in time and deployed police ,the situation wouldn’t have occurred .In the statement passed by deputy CM ,he spoke about an administrative failure .The internet suspension extended in Faridabad and it was banned in Mewat also temporarily.

CM Khattar said and confirmed that six deaths took place in Nuh district even he renewed appeal to people to maintain peace in the state .He said total 116 persons have been arrested in connection with the communal violence on Monday in Nuh .To conclude we can say that such communal violence and clashes are unacceptable and they are a black stain on our democracy and as such should not take place in future because these are against our age old culture and dharma and thus have no place in our country It is the innocent people who become target of the culprits and get killed.

The political parties instead of politicizing the unfortunate issue should lend a helping hand to the government to quell the communal violence and bring back normalcy in the state.

(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)