Two dead and 36 were injured in Ram Navami violence on Sunday over India, with houses, and shops set on fire.
This was the first time in India that such violence was exploding on Ram Navami. On Sunday, violence in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in Delhi erupted after a dispute over non-vegetarian food being served on campus that left several left-wing students wounded and bleeding.
In other parts of India, one person was also killed in Khambat town in Gujarat’s Anand district and houses, mosques, and shops were set on fire in Khargone as the communal violence, after an attack on a Ram Navami procession, spread to different parts of the city by late Sunday night.
Curfew was clamped in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city and at least 84 people were arrested there, officials said Monday. One person was also killed in Khambat town in Gujarat’s Anand district while there were some reports of violence in West Bengal’s Howrah district, adjoining Kolkata, after a Ram Navami procession.
Khargone’s superintendent of police Siddharth Choudhary was shot and around 24 other people, including six policemen, were also injured during Sunday’s rioting and burning.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh took this time to order the bulldozing of “illegally acquired properties of the accused in the incident. “We have identified 50 houses and shops built in encroached government land by some of the accused. All these properties will be demolished. Five houses have already been bulldozed”, a senior police officer said. During this tearing down of houses, Muslim homes were bulldozed.
On Sunday night, the rioters also fought pitched battles at several places in the city. This was the second time the city has seen communal violence in a span of six months. In Gujarat, meanwhile, the police arrested nine people for violence and stone-pelting during a Ram Navami procession at Khambat in Anand district, in which one person was killed on Sunday, while Section 144 CrPC was imposed in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district after a similar incident there.
“The situation in Khambhat town is under control. We have already arrested nine suspects and started further investigations,” SP Ajit Rajian said. Police sources said those arrested include some local maulvis. A similar stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of MP’s Barwani district where a police station in-charge and five others were injured.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that the minority community leaders and left-liberals are to be blamed for “attacks” across the country on people celebrating Ram Navami.
It was unfortunate such violence took form in this festival and sources felt it was pre-planned. Shree Rama Navami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of Shree Rama, the seventh avatar of the deity Bhagwan Vishnu. Rama is particularly important in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism
However, in BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, a massive crowd of Hindu radicals with swords, axes danced in front of a mosque, singing songs mockingly, hailing god Ram, and chanting in an incendiary manner waving swords before the mosque, to the Muslims who stood quietly watching them with police being silent spectators.
On speaking about the violence, BJP Spokesperson Sanju Verma and Congress Spokesperson Gurdeep Sappal share a heated argument and while BJP Spokesperson Sanju Verma says that the Hindus were attacked, Spokesperson Gurdeep Sappal said that all these years, Ram Navami was being celebrated peacefully and are these first-time Hindus celebrating the festival that they made such a ruckus and were provocative.?
Ram Navami violence: What triggered the clashes?
BJP Spokesperson Sanju Verma and Congress Spokesperson Gurdeep Sappal join the discussion.
Watch full show: https://t.co/JjxqYInyW8#TTP #RamNavami | @PreetiChoudhry pic.twitter.com/P6Ccy11x7f— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 11, 2022
Here are violent scenes of Muslims severely battered and lying on the floor, profusely bleeding and it is akin to scenes in “Nazi Germany” as netizens are tweeting.
No this is not a scene from Nazi Germany.
This is how Muslims are being treated by the state.
My dear world, this is India. Wake up and smell the blood. #IndianMuslimGenocideAlert #IndianMuslimsUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/H0lgT6wnQe
— Darab Farooqui दाराब फारूक़ी داراب فاروقی (@darab_farooqui) April 12, 2022
#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack
This is from Khargone, MP.
Men in uniform can be seen breaking lock of Bilal Mosque.
When elderly Muslim women in neighbourhood objected, they were brutally beaten up. #MuslimLivesMatter #MuslimsUnderAttack #IslamophobiaInIndia #MunawarFaruqui pic.twitter.com/RrL0oLbN1e— Bangalore Voice (@AbdulHafeezBlr) April 12, 2022
#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack Understand Saffron Chronology 🚩
How Manuscripts Functions ❓
Mosque attacked in Ram Navami procession, Muslims were injured and Muslims are being arrested
Together the houses of Muslims are being demolished with bulldozers
Thank you Narendra Modi Ji pic.twitter.com/dHfgne4Mo5— RaGa Army (@RoflINCGandhi) April 11, 2022
There is a general feeling that the government of India is not taking any action against the rioters. Muslims’ homes and shops were burned down and Muslim, men, women, and youth were brutally attacked.
If the administration does not take action against the rioters even after watching the videos, then you can understand who are the main culprit.#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/2ZRHbKLcNd
— H R Khan Adv (@hrkhanadvocate) April 11, 2022
Masjids are Burnt.
Muslim Shops & Houses demolished.
Muslim Women & Youths brutally attacked.
World needs to take notice before it’s too late.#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/jZ4RzelLvC— Mohammed Habeeb Ur Rehman (@Habeebinamdar) April 11, 2022
This islamophobia disease can't be cured 🤢!!
The government and the Police are either supporting rioters or becoming silent spectators.#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack #MuslimGenocideInIndia pic.twitter.com/Sn4he2kAtl
— Imran🗨 (@Imran_immu77) April 12, 2022
The Master mind of Delhi riots in #khargone provocating Hindu with his hate speech.
Note: UAPA is only for Muslims.#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack #KhargoneAntiMuslimRiot #MuslimLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/aUCOKO99KU
— Imran🗨 (@Imran_immu77) April 11, 2022
Hindu Right Wing in India, in front of a Mosque, is doing its War Dance!pic.twitter.com/s7WZFvjK4M
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) April 12, 2022
Meer Faisal tweeted, “Najmuddin had a small shop selling dry fruits and spices at Boora Batasha Gali, Karauli, Rajasthan. It was the evening of April 2, 2022, when a Hindutva mob attacked his shop, looted some of the items, and burnt the entire remaining. Najmuddin has 3 daughters and a boy, all studying at a nearby school. The family of 6 was dependent on the shop for their livelihood. With the shop gone, a part of Najmuddin’s hope seems bleak and dark. A current fundraiser would help Najmuddin in starting his livelihood.”
There was incredible support for Najmuddin and a netizen responded with “I just talked to Rizwan, son of Najmuddin. We have raised a total of 2.28 lakhs for the cause. We would transfer the entire amount by tonight. Thank you for donating to the cause.” The entire thread is seen in below:
Najmuddin had a small shop selling dry fruits & spices at Boora Batasha Gali , Karauli, Rajasthan. It was the evening of April 2, 2022 when a Hindutva mob attacked his shop , looted some of the items and burnt the entire remaining. Najmuddin has 3 daughters and a boy, + pic.twitter.com/Ts5NDVCj3n
— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) April 12, 2022
Alt News Fact Checker warns, “Warning Abusive Content : This is BJP MLA
@TigerRajaSingh from Goshamahal, Telengana. 🤢🤢That’s your Party MLA
@narendramodi” who apparently was hurling profane abuses at the Muslims during the event.
Warning Abusive Content :
This is BJP MLA @TigerRajaSingh from Goshamahal, Telengana. 🤢🤢
That's your Party MLA @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/wZlB8nDyNh— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 11, 2022
Ram Navami celebration Outside Minara Masjid, Bardoli, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/5xYu8JcswB
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 11, 2022
Social activist, news personality, Tehseen Poonawalla writes, “I have a bet! I feel our most Hon’ble PM will comment, tweet or speak on the #NewYork #Brooklyn attack while he has still not spoken and remains quiet about the violence and attacks that have occurred recently in our country during #RamNavami !
I have a bet! I feel our most Hon'ble PM will comment, tweet or speak on the #NewYork #Brooklyn attack while he has still not spoken and remains quiet about the violence and attacks that have occurred recently in our country during #RamNavami !
— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) April 12, 2022
In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Hindutva Goons attacking Muslims, houses, property and shops.
Pray for Indian Muslims 🤲#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack
— Azhar Khan (@I_am_azhar__) April 12, 2022
A netizen shares about the genocide against Muslims, aghast and feeling helpless. Muslims, being a minority of around 16% of the population do feel threatened. It is imperative that the government give them assurance of safety. As is the case, minorities usually suffer harder in the hands of the majority and are always more vulnerable and threatened. The majority gets the edge off every battle.
Genocide watch founder Prof Stanton eerily predicted “India is in 8th stage of genocide, just one step away from extermination.”
Genocide against Muslims
Speak up people https://t.co/J4eiGEI64S— Nadya (@JUS_FANofRG) April 10, 2022
Heartwarming Moments Between Hindus and Muslims after Sunday’s Violence
Hope is still there! On a happier note revealing humanity is still alive in India, Hindus and Muslims tried to heal the wounds and gaps. In Maharasthra, a netizen shares, “Meanwhile in Maharashtra, a procession crossing a mosque shut down its DJ. “We are going to shut down the DJ for 2 mins. Once we cross the mosque we will restart the DJ. We have to keep in mind the sentiments of others too.
“Sarva Dharma Sambhav” you can hear the announcement.
Meanwhile in Maharashtra
A procession crossing a mosque shut down its DJ
"We are going to shut down the DJ for 2 mins.Once we cross the mosque we will restart the DJ. We have to keep in mind the sentiments of others too.
"Sarva Dharma Sambhav"
you can hear the announcement. pic.twitter.com/vGFTd3ozmQ— GoldenSunrise (@Divine8together) April 12, 2022
"न तो मैं हिन्दू हूँ, न ही मुसलमान हूँ
मैं इंसान हूँ, मुझे इंसान ही रहने दो.." pic.twitter.com/5AwffnJU8K— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) April 11, 2022
Congress National President – Indian Youth Congress BV revealed the love and sharing between Hindus and Muslims on Ram Navami and he tweeted, “I am neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, I am human, let me be human ..”
In another instance, Muslims shower flower petals on the Ram Navami procession in Rajasthan where the Shobha Yatra conducted on Ram Navami was welcomed by the members of the Muslim community as the state set an example of communal harmony.
In the aftermath of the riots in Karauli, the Ram Navami celebrations in Rajasthan turned into an emblem of religious harmony. People from the Muslim community not only welcomed the Shobha Yatra organized on Ram Navami but also made special arrangements for it.
In Jaipur’s old city area, flower petals were showered on the Shobha Yatra by members of the Muslim community as the procession was carried on. The Yatra, which went through parts of Ramganj Subhash chowk, Manak chowk in the old city of Jaipur, was welcomed with open arms by members of the Muslim and Hindu communities who lined up on both sides of the street to welcome the procession.
In the Barmer district of Rajasthan, Union minister Kailash Choudhary danced and flower petals were showered by members of the minority community to welcome the Shobha Yatra carried out on the occasion of Ram Navami.
I welcome this statement from Karnataka Minister J C Madhuswamy 👏
Let it be translated into action#IndianMuslimsUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/aKgNc40JFE
— Mohd Abdul Sattar (@SattarFarooqui) April 12, 2022