Is racial hatred their sole agenda?

The shockwaves of the communal conflict erupted on March 17 in Maharashtra’s Nagpur, where the founding of India's most powerful racial militant movement RSS, celebrating its centenary this year, took place and where it is still headquartered, have not yet completely settled. Just as PM Modi is to visit Nagpur on March 30, the constituency of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister alleged conspiracy behind the communal clashes and widespread destruction. The mystery over the clashes continues as he has not revealed any details of his claim. However, the undeniable truth is that the incident was triggered after the provocative demonstration carried out by the extreme Hindutva organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its youth wing Bajrang Dal on March 17 demanding the demolition of the three-hundred-year-old tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Aurangabad, now known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Nearly all media reports confirm that the widespread destruction of shops and homes followed the rumours of protesters having trampled on the sacred texts that Muslims consider to be the core of their faith. The state government claims the timely intervention of the police helped contain the clashes within eight hundred meters and the curfew imposed in nearby areas prevented the communal clashes from spreading. It is now reported that the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has stopped the civic body from demolishing the buildings of two Muslim leaders using bulldozers. The city council ordered to demolish the residence of Fahim Khan, the leader of the local Minorities Democratic Party and also the residence of another prominent person, Yusuf Sheikh, for inciting riots. The demolition attempt could not be completed due to a sudden court order. The Supreme Court pointed out in November 2024 demolishing buildings without prior notice and not completing legal procedures is a blatant violation of the rule of law and a denial of natural justice and the right of citizens to build houses. The Supreme Court had stayed the UP government's use of bulldozers. Justice Gavai made it clear that the practice of demolishing houses using bulldozers is a violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. This is also the basis for the Bombay High Court's stay order.

Even in the case of those the government found involved in riots, the Hindutva governments carry out the grave injustice of convicting them without completing the investigation and case procedures, thus jeopardizing the lives of some of their targets. Devendra Fadnavis’s BJP government, backed by turncoat Shiv Sena and NCP groups, is opening the door for its followers to unleash communal violence in the name of an insignificant and antiquated demand just as the state is reeling from problems including rampant unemployment, homelessness and price hike. As MIM leader and former MP Imtiaz Jalil has said that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb is not a hero to Muslims at all. They have no interest in this Mughal ruler. Many Hindu Muslim emperors and kings fought with each other for power and wealth. Their wars were not in the name of faith or for the sake of communities. It is an undeniable historical fact that there were Hindu commanders in Aurangzeb's army and Muslims in Shivaji's army. Muslims in Maratha still love and respect Shivaji; they have no special obligation or interest in Aurangzeb.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis himself pointed to the legal hindrance in demolishing the mausoleum in Khuldabad. The attempt to hunt down the Muslim minority nowhere in the history is more meaningless than the wolf’s justification in eating the lamb in the story. The Nagpur incident proves that the fascist forces, nonetheless having so much influence and power, have no agenda beyond inciting racial hatred through any means. A film called 'Chhaava' was made on the lines of 'Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story'; Aurangzeb is portrayed as a complete fiend in the movie and also filmed the brutal murder of Shivaji, the son of the Marathas' idol, Sambhaji. Chief Minister Fadnavis and his cabinet colleagues praised the movie. Afterwards, the provocative demonstration demanding to raze Aurangzeb’s tomb took place. Following the demonstration there took place the riot. As the story continues, the Maharashtra government arrests members of the minority community for allegedly participating in the riot. Their houses are being bulldozed. Doesn't Nagpur once again reveal that they have nothing on their agenda except hatred, enmity and retaliation?