In news from India, it appears as if Muslims are finally taking action against Modi’s Hindutva policies. Recently, Muslims in areas of Maharashtra took to the streets to protest against the anti-Muslim violence in Tripura.
Incidents of stone-pelting were reported during rallies taken out by Muslims in Nanded, Malegaon, and Amaravati. Reports claim the protest turned violent with the mob resorting to stone-pelting.
8000 Muslim protestors gathered outside the office of the district collector. They demanded action against the atrocities happening in Tripura against Muslims. However, as the protestors began to leave, incidents of violence took place at several locations.
Read more: Worsening and insecure life of Muslims in India
Videos and reports emerged on Indian social media of Muslims targeting Hindu-owned shops and properties. They also chanted slogans of “Allah hu Akbar.”
वहां @akshaykumar की सूर्यवंशी में हिंदुओं को धर्मनिरपेक्षता का ज्ञान दिया गया यहां आज अमरावती में विशेष समुदाय के लोगो ने तिरंगा हाथ मे थामे दुकानों में तोड़फोड़ कर लूटी गयी । कपड़ों और नारों से पहचाना जा सकता हैं कि लोग कौन हैं । धन्य हो महाराष्ट्र सरकार । pic.twitter.com/ycJbztyrc1
— Karan Sharma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ikaransharma27) November 12, 2021
Reacting to the Muslim protests, BJP also took out a rally. Indian media reports that hundreds of people, many of them holding saffron flags came out on the streets. They also hurled stones at shops and damaged public property. The police dispersed the crowd by using the baton.
Also, in response to the back-to-back protests, the police imposed a curfew. An order by the additional police commissioner stated that people cannot come out of their homes except for emergencies. The police so far arrested 50 people and registered FIRs under various charges.
UPDATE – हिंसक जमावाला पांगवण्यासाठी पोलिसांकडून लाठीचार्ज
(सावधान‼️ काही दृश्यं विचलित करू शकतात)#AmravatiViolence #अमरावती pic.twitter.com/Bo9MqSESJi
— BBC News Marathi (@bbcnewsmarathi) November 13, 2021
Mosques targeted in Tripura?
In October, reports emerged of hardline Hindu extremists attacking Muslims and mosques in Tripura. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights said there have been at least 27 confirmed incidents of right-wing mobs attacking mosques, houses, and individuals in Muslim areas of the state.
The extremists attacked Muslims in retaliation to anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh. An angry Bangladeshi mob attacked a Hindu temple in Comilla on October 15, 2021, after a photo showing the Quran placed on the knee of a Hindu deity went viral on social media during the Hindu holy festival of Durga Puja.
In response, Hindus in Tripura attacked Muslims and their mosques. However, police in Tripura denied that any “mosque was burnt down.”
Read more: Distortion of jihad by Hindu priests-another attack on Muslims in India?
Pertinent to note, Muslims in India often face marginalization by the government, for example, the Citizenship Amendment Bill, often termed as the Anti-Muslim law.