UP Chief Minister Criticised for Handling Bahraich Violence
Recent Communal Violence Led to Multiple Deaths
December 26, 2024
Photo for representational purposes only
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is facing criticism for his handling of recent communal violence in the Bahraich and Sambhal districts. Opposition leaders accuse him of evading responsibility, using diversionary tactics and creating divisions instead of addressing the root causes of the unrest.
The violence in Bahraich erupted during a Durga Puja idol immersion procession in October 2024. The immediate cause was a disagreement related to loud music being played from loudspeakers as the procession passed through a predominantly Muslim area, according to media reports. Tensions escalated into communal clashes, resulting in the death of a 22-year-old man, stone-pelting and subsequent firing.
Local authorities took measures by deploying police forces who carried out flag marches and used tear gas and lathicharge to control the crowds. The aftermath saw the torching of a hospital and several shops, the arrest of suspects involved in the violence and the suspension of internet services to prevent further disturbances.
In Sambhal, communal violence erupted after a second survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, resulting in four deaths and widespread unrest. The incident involved clashes between locals and authorities over claims that the mosque was constructed on the remains of a temple from the Mughal era centuries ago.
During the winter session of the Uttar Pradesh state assembly in December, the Opposition demanded a thorough discussion of recent communal violence resulting in the deaths of several individuals, urging the government to take responsibility for the lapses in law and order.
Mata Prasad Pandey, the leader of the opposition in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, questioned whether the Bahraich and Sambhal violence was a result of police conspiracy or administrative apathy. He called for a fair investigation and criticised the government’s alleged failure to protect the Muslim community.
Adityanath, however, maintained that Uttar Pradesh has remained largely free of communal violence since he took office. Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau, he asserted a 97-99% reduction in communal riots since 2017 and claimed that no riots have occurred in the state under his administration. “What you actually refer to as riots, they haven’t taken place in UP since 2017,” he stated, as reported by The Wire, which argued that instead of addressing the specific incidents in Bahraich and Sambhal, Adityanath diverted the conversation to past violences and historical grievances.
Adityanath referred to the killing of the young man in Bahraich, Ram Gopal Mishra, saying his death did not constitute a riot since the bullet was fired from inside a house. However, he didn’t mention the subsequent large-scale vandalism and arson against Muslims, which included the destruction of homes, shops and personal property over two days, acknowledged in several FIRs registered by the Uttar Pradesh police, as noted by The Wire.
The Chief Minister also defended the use of the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan, arguing that it is a symbol of reverence and faith rather than a provocative chant. He suggested that phrases like “Jai Shri Ram” are part of daily greetings and questioned why Muslim processions are permitted through Hindu localities while Hindu processions face restrictions in Muslim-dominated areas.
Opposition leaders responded by saying that Muslims were subjected to threats against their places of worship, killings during police actions and harassment under the current administration in the state.
Adityanath also invoked historical instances of Hindu suffering by referring to the murders of Hindus in Sambhal since 1947. He claimed that past administrations did not address these issues. Pandey pointed out that no new temples were discovered or constructed.
The Chief Minister suggested that the Muslim community is divided, and that there is a conflict between native and foreign Muslims.
In response to questions about the controversial survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Pandey asked why the survey was permitted under The Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the religious character of any place of worship. Adityanath deflected by asserting that a temple had been demolished to build a mosque, citing historical texts like the Baburnama and local legends about the Hari Har temple.
The previous similar issue of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid centred on whether a temple previously existed on the site that was demolished by Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, centuries ago to construct a mosque. The issue ignited widespread violence following the mosque’s demolition on Dec. 6, 1992, resulting in over 2,000 deaths. In the years since, the subsequent polarisation has led to thousands of more deaths, numerous injuries, significant property damage and ongoing communal disharmony.
