Fractured Harmony

Communal tensions in Maharashtra are on the rise once again. The most recent flare-up in Amravati is a stark reminder of the fragile social harmony in the state. Twenty-one policemen were injured when a mob demanded action against a Hindu seer who made inflammatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammad in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district. Although the police assured the crowd that an FIR had been filed against the seer, the protest escalated into violence, with stones being pelted at the police and damage caused to 10 police vans.

This is not the first time Amravati has witnessed communal tension linked to inflammatory remarks. In June 2022, a chemist named Umesh Kolhe was murdered in the city after sharing a social media post in support of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who had made controversial comments about Prophet Mohammad. The brutal killing shocked the nation and highlighted how quickly tensions can escalate into violence when religious sentiments are involved.

The tensions are not confined to Amravati. In Bhiwandi, Thane district, unrest erupted after a stone was allegedly thrown at a Ganesh idol during its immersion procession, sparking an altercation between communities. Such incidents of communal violence are getting increasingly frequent, with religious tensions ready to ignite at any provocation. These incidents reflect a growing communal rift that has been exacerbated by political and social factors. Both Hindu and Muslim groups in the state have been mobilizing in response to real or perceived slights, with protests frequently descending into violence.

In the first half of 2023 alone, Maharashtra saw at least seven incidents of communal unrest, triggered by processions, religious sites, and inflammatory social media posts, leading to violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups. This recurring violence highlights deeper political, social, and economic tensions intertwined with religious identity. More troubling, however, is the Maharashtra Home Department’s failure to pre-empt or mitigate these conflicts. Law enforcement remains reactive, addressing violence only after it erupts, rather than focusing on prevention or fostering dialogue to address the root causes. In November 2021, a riot had again erupted in Amravati, when a curfew had to be imposed after BJP-led protests devolved into stone-pelting and vandalism.

The cyclical nature of communal violence means that both Hindu and Muslim groups are locked in a perpetual state of grievance and retaliation. Whether it is remarks against the Prophet or provocations during religious processions, both sides justify their actions as responses to perceived slights by the other. Economic factors have further exacerbated this volatile environment. Unemployment is rising, inflation remains stubbornly high, and rural districts like Amravati face acute economic distress. In such an environment, communal tensions offer an outlet for economic frustration, with religious identity becoming a convenient vehicle for expressing broader societal grievances.