GovernmentAfter several decades of respite, the historic city of Hyderabad witnessed communal riots. The peace, tranquility and communal harmony is under
threat from the fundamentalist forces. Several theories on conspiracy angle are being floated. Even the union home minister and the city police commissioner expressed similar sentiments . The government has to bring the facts before the people.
The present disturbances had their trigger in the competitive mobilization of politico- religious groups desperately trying to have a sway over the city’s social and political landscape.
The MIM has been controlling the politics of old city of Hyderabad for several decades. The MIM and congress has tacit understanding on almost all occasion . At times this understanding is obvious. The congress facilitates the election of MIM candidates in the Assembly and Parliament elections by fielding weak and little known candidates. The MIM reciprocates in the other parts of the city and elsewhere in the state wherever there is a congregation of muslim voting . The MIM and congress shares power now in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal corporation with the congress taking the Mayor post. The MIM has a record number of seven MLAs in the current Assembly. Thanks to this political bondage with the party in power, MIM writ runs large over the old city. There is no rule of law here. The civic administration and the police largely acts as per the dictates of MIM leadership . The police , criminal , politician , bureaucrat nexus manifests in the old city . The common people of this historic city which comprises of both muslim and Hindus are deprived of their basic rights . The old city is reeling under socio economic backwardness and gross neglect. There are wide disparities between the old and the new parts of the city in almost all social and economic indicators of development . The MIM never bothered to address these genuine concerns of the people of old city. But, it thrives on the communal frenzy. The BJP on the other hand uses the same religious card to counter the MIM. As a result, one form of fundamentalism thrived on the other. For many years the politics of Hyderabad was dominated by both MIM and the BJP.
Subsequently BJP weekend in the city and its strength in the corporation plummeted to single digit. The TDP emerged as a challenger to the Congress- MIM combine in the city politics. The BJP under its new leadership both in the state and the centre is desperately waiting for an opportunity to revive itself.
On the contrary, the MIM continued to enjoy greater political clout in the old city despite intense efforts by the secular parties and the groups. During the last several years , the MIM faced a stiff resistance from the CPIM in many parts of old city. The CPIM, CPI, TDP and the MBT forge unity to challenge the violent supremacy of MIM on the politics of old city. Several sections of educated muslims started opposing the divisive agenda of MIM . The MIM for the first time encountered a secular challenge in its bastion. The BJP challenge was never a threat for the MIM. In fact, the MIM used the BJP offensive to rally muslim voters into its fold. But, the MIM could not digest the fact that it has to face a secular challenge. The MIM activists resorted violent attacks on its opponents. But, this secular challenge could not make a dent into the electoral success of MIM. However, it could feel the political challenge and was preparing for a fresh round of communal offensive to regain lost ground .
Besides this secular opposition , the MIM got isolated from certain sections of muslim voters due its indifference to the demand for separate state of Telangana. The jamat- e- islami Hind organized a large meeting where it expressed its support to the Telangana statehood demand.
Given this political situation, the MIM was waiting for an opportunity to trigger off an intense communal mobilization. Muslim organization close to MIM used the occasion of Milad-ul- Nabi.
Flags, buntings came up in an unprecedented manner in the entire old city. Never in the history, Milad- ul- Nabi was celebrated on such a large scale. Competitive communalism aimed at political mobilisation was behind this rather than any new found interest in the religion. Knowing fully well that the festivals of other religion will follow soon, the police or the civic administration failed to remove these flags and buntings after Milad- ul- Nabi. The MIM obviously is interested in retaining them. The Hindu religious organizations close to BJP especially the Sangh Pariwar responded in a similar manner. The Sree Rama Navami festival saw an unprecedented celebration in the form of rallies, exhibition of flags, buntings etc. The old city saw a competitive religious mobilization giving enough ammunition to those who want to disturb the peace and communal harmony. The echoes of the localized incident were heard in many parts of the old city and the disturbances even spread to some parts of the new city. Even after incidents of violence in the old city the police allowed the huge procession of Bajrang dal activists which resulted in violent incidents in Musheerabad and Secunderabad areas of the new city too. The terrene of old city is also conducive for stone throwing and other incidents of vandalism. The narrow lanes, inadequate road space, densely populated areas make it very difficult for the authorities to control the violence The modus operandi of these incidents clearly reveal that the miscreants and divisive forces were deliberately spreading the violence and disturbances.
The brazen attempts of the communal forces for political consolidation are proving to be rude challenge to the social and political fabric of Hyderabad, which is known for its cosmopolitan character due to multi lingual, multi religious, multicultural and even multi ethnic nature of its population.
Meanwhile, the media and political circles are agog with several theories of conspiracy. Some attribute it to the power struggle within the state congress. In the past, the infighting and power struggle within the congress had an ugly manifestation resulting in disturbances in the city. The forces determined to malign Rosaiah government within the congress are fomenting the trouble. The second theory is that the force opposed to the demand for Telangana separate state are behind these troubles as they intend to prove their point that the new state of Telangana is vulnerable to threats from ISI. The third theory points to the mining mafia of Karnataka. The state government as per the supreme court directive is trying to act on the illegal mining activities of Gali Janardana Reddy of Obulapuram.
It is difficult to confirm these theories of conspiracy behind Hyderabad riots unless the government investigates into the issue from all possible angles and come out with evidence. However nothing can be ruled out. The dubious role of communal forces should not be lost sight in his debate over conspiracy theories.
2 Comments
Good Analysis has been done and rightly said that dubious role of communal forces should not be lost in debate over conspiracy theories. Everybody knows that there are communal forces in country, who are using religion as means to create ruckus and satisfy their urge of power and domination. But there is no way to arrest these tendencies. Sometime it gives impression that we are going towards anarchy. Government dilemma can be understood because of involvement of religious sensitivity. No doubt politics is plunging into newer low each day. Its therefore important that all like minded people rises and make full effort to eliminate these tendencies. It requires collective effort. Let the new generation children do not get hijacked by these nefarious and dangerous communal organization. This is right opportunity to start debate on curbing this. I remember Edmund Burke saying that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing ” We have to act now !! before it engulfs us !!
Sir,
Analysis is true, excellent and thought provoking. Not only fundamentalists, but also some political forces are playing with the peace and harmony in the old city creating gap between major communities to get some advantage or mileage utilising every little opportunity to aggravate the situation to the extent possible which needs to be curbed once and for all. Illiteracy and poverty of the people are the main reasons for many problems including the communal disturbances in the old city and they are exploited by the interested parties to incite communal feelings/riots. Majority of the Hindus and Muslims in the old city are secular and only microscopic minority are causing communal troubles which requires to be opposed by all the secular and peace loving people. Major political –congress, MIM and BJP have to play a vital role to maintain tranquility in the old city. Though the law and order enforcing agency acted well they should have been more alert and visualized the gravity of the situation as this years both the festivals unlike previously, celebrated aggressively. Providing education and lively hood to the old city poor go a long way in ensuring peaceful atmosphere in the ever growing city.