MUMBAI AUTHORITIES DEMOLISH ‘ILLEGAL’ MUSLIM-OWNED HOMES
▶ State government criticised for response to clashes ignited by Ayodhya temple inauguration
Authorities in Mumbai have been sharply criticised for demolishing properties, mostly belonging to Muslims, after sectarian clashes broke out on the day of the Ram Temple’s inauguration in Uttar Pradesh state.
Bulldozers were brought in under police supervision on Tuesday to raze structures deemed “illegal” in the Mira Road area, where groups of Hindus and Muslims clashed on Monday.
The Maharashtra state government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said the police action was aimed at illegally built shops and houses.
Residents of the Muslim-majority area were alleged to have thrown stones at a procession of Hindus, who were said to have responded with provocative slogans. The Hindus were reportedly armed with sticks, iron rods and bats.
The procession was in celebration of the inauguration of a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Rama by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about 1,600km away in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
The temple, which is still under construction, occupies the site of a 16th century mosque that was demolished by Hindu nationalists in 1992. The mosque’s demolition was followed by one of the worst bouts of sectarian violence across India, including Mumbai.
Footage of the clashes in Mumbai this week was shared on social media, appearing to show a group of Muslims using sticks to attack Hindus in the procession and their vehicles.
The situation flared up again when groups of Hindus attacked Muslim-owned properties in the area, with violence continuing for a third day on Wednesday.
Dozens of videos posted on social media and broadcast on Indian television showed Hindus attacking properties and people, amid encouragement from others through live Facebook streams. In one video, a crowd is seen attacking a van with the Muslim name “Rashid Tempo Service” on the side.
The police sent additional officers to curb the violence. More than a dozen people were arrested late on Monday, and more than 60, mostly Muslims, on Tuesday.
The arrests were followed by the demolition of structures in the Mira Road area.
State governments run by Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have long been accused of using demolitions as a political tool, razing Muslim-owned properties as a form of collective punishment after sectarian clashes.
“The Mira Road bulldozer politics orchestrated by Eknath Shinde and the BJP-led Maharashtra government is petty, to say the least,” said journalist Prakash Ambedkar.
“It is designed to escalate oppression and perpetuate an environment of fear and helplessness among the minorities.”
In a social media post, Communist Party of India member Subhashini Ali said: “Police blame members of the majority community but the government takes action against members of the minority community.”
Dozens of properties owned by Muslims accused of engaging in communal violence and protests have been demolished in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand states, all governed by the BJP.
In August last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court moved to prevent authorities from demolishing buildings after deadly clashes in Haryana’s Nuh district.
The court found that the authorities had not followed legal procedures before destroying the structures, and asked whether the state action was an “exercise of ethnic cleansing”.
However, Hindu nationalist politicians and supporters have praised the government’s actions amid calls by Hindu social media influencers to “teach” a lesson to Muslims. On social media, Suresh Nakhua, BJP spokesman for Mumbai, posted footage of the demolitions in the Mira Road area and wrote: “Hindus celebrating [the Ram Temple consecration] were attacked in this same locality.”
The temple’s inauguration on Monday was followed by religious clashes all over India.
In one incident, a saffron yellow flag – associated with Hindu nationalism – was planted on top of a church in Madhya Pradesh state.
In Telangana state, a procession of Hindus stopped in front of a mosque and played loud music on a sound system.
Videos posted on social media also showed people singing Hindu religious songs outside a mosque.
The ruling BJP has long been accused of using property demolitions as a way to punish Muslims after sectarian clashes