"The cause of communal riots – religion or politics?" Aziz Burney We Indians need to understand if religion is related to communal riots or politics because if we want to maintain peace and unity in the country and the communal harmony and we keep the security and democracy of our country then we need to delve deep into this reality as to what is the basic cause of communal riots in India. Those who have a bent towards research should take up the topic and bring out the research work. Azizul Hind will try to take the work to every citizen of the country. So far as I have observed and understood as a journalist, the cause of communal riots is political and not religious. I will continue the topic after giving some examples. For the first time after the Muzaffar Nagar riots, women were seen wielding lathis. Thousands of communal riots have taken place before but never before Hindu or Muslim women have shown such arrogance. Off course they had come to attend the panchayat and not to attack Muslims but when the atmosphere is not peaceful, such petty incidents also create tensions. With this example, I want to draw the attention of readers towards thousands of communal riots motivated by religion, Hindu or Muslim women did not take part in the riots though it is observed that women, Hindu or Muslim, adhere to the religion more than the men. If she is a Hindu, she observes pujas and vrats (fasting) and tries to strictly observe her religious rites. If she is a Muslim, she observes namaz and fasting. Even during the riots, when men are bent on killing each other, women do not seem to be baying for the blood of each other. If we study deeply, those fighting in the name of religion during the communal riots are not so close to their respective religions practically. Those who are close to religion on the level of oral loyalty may say something that creates controversy but the representatives of both the religions try to maintain peace and harmony. Off course, politicians do say something occasionally that creates hatred in the hearts and intensify the communal acrimony. Mostly the young section becomes a victim of the communal riots though it does not strictly adhere to religious practices. So it cannot be accepted that a youngster wanted to take or lay down his life for the cause of religion. I would like to give one more example. The wayward section of both Hindus and Muslims who is lodged in jails due to some crimes is not a part of the civilized society. In how many incidents of Hindu and Muslim prisoners have tried to kill each other during the communal riots? In other words, at a place where criminals are imprisoned, people are not willing to kill each other in the name of religion. When after the communal riots, many people have lost their lives and many injured people are lying in hospitals and the entire town is pervaded by an atmosphere of hatred, the curfew is relaxed for a few hours. What happens then is that Hindus and Muslims rush towards the markets or shops to buy the essentials. During that time, it is not kept in mind if a Muslim is buying from the shops of only a Muslim and a Hindu is buying from a Hindus shop nor does the shopkeeper refuse to sell the commodities to a particular person on the basis of his religion. If religion is really the cause of acrimony, why doesn’t it reflect in their relationship during the relaxation of the curfew? And when the communal riots are over in a few days, the situation again comes to normal. Those who lose their kith and kin are definitely aggrieved but it is not that people of other religions do not visit them to console them and to express their condolences and try to reduce the ill feeling that creeps in. If fact, even today we are following the policy of divide and rule. Whenever, the elections are close, politics needs the blood of Hindus and Muslims and hatred between them because this hatred helps them win votes. Political parties do not have the ability to make the country grow and prosper with their performance and work and so they think that only religion can become a vote bank for them. Even today it is not kept in mind while finalizing candidates for the elections as to who is the best candidate who can be a part of the development of his town and country by virtue of his work and performance inside and outside the parliament. Instead, it is seen which caste has the largest vote bank in the constituency and so who should be made the candidate to ensure his victory. Now the criteria of ability to win depend. Ability to win does not necessarily mean his academic and leadership qualities or his secular credentials or his identity as a dedicated social worker. Winning seats is important to the political parties. So they do not weigh things on the scale of good and bad. If the candidate can win the election on the strength of his money, physical power or on the basis of the votes of his own caste, then even if he has a criminal background or is a notorious figure and the people are compelled to vote in his favour not out of choice but out of fear then he will be made a candidate. Therefore when they are convinced that the money or their power or the votes of their caste has played a great role in their victory, not of their qualities and virtues, not their popularity or their thinking for the progress of their town or country. So they get busy to increase with what they think they got the victory. If they think they then won with the help of their money, they try to increase their wealth after winning the elections. If they believe that their victory owes to their power, the try to increase their muscle power and if they think the votes of their caste had ensure their victory, then they start patronize their caste or religious community. And this mindset has brought the country to the verge of destruction. We can become a part of the progress of the society by embarking on the path of love but instead become a part of the obstacles in the way of the progress of our society by harbouring hatred against each other in our hearts. And the reason for all this is politics. Why does a sea of humanity surges on the streets to secure the release of a politician who is arrested for disturbing the peace and order of the city. Why are rallies and meetings organized to express solidarity with him? He spends a few days in jail he will do some introspection but if rallies and meetings are organized in his favour, he will think that by fomenting riots and taking an active part in the riots he has done something great, gained some popularity and his stature has increased in his own party and so if he gets the ticket now, the riots will help him win the elections. If we did not try to change this destructive mindset, the local political leaders, administration or the government are not punished for their role, then the peace and harmony of the country will always remain under threat. If they are doing all this for votes then your vote can scuttle their plans. As governments change or transfer officers who are responsible for the disturbances in their area, you can also remove or change the leadership or government who are responsible for the riots. Governments can only change officers but your decision can also change the thinking of these leaders or themselves and give an opportunity to one who takes all along. Read AZIZULHIND news in URDU and HINDI azizulhind epaper.azizulhind/ epaper.azizulhind/index.php?newsId=1877
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 08:18:09 +0000
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