Saffron Flags
NEW DEHLI: In the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of a controversial temple in Ayodhya, Hindutva mobs reportedly targeted religious sites in BJP-ruled states, staging victory marches and escalating communal tensions. Hindu activists unfurled saffron flags in a mosque in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and similar attacks were reported on a church in Madhya Pradesh. In Assam, police booked Rahul Gandhi for alleged acts of violence during a peace march, intensifying the political confrontation between the Congress leader and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
With reference to wanton acts of violence, provocation , damage to public property and assault on police personnel today by Cong members , a FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal , Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals under section…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
Communal clashes erupted in several states, with incidents of violence reported in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Screenings of the documentary film “Ram ke Naam,” addressing rightwing Hindu fanaticism, were disrupted in Hyderabad and Kerala. The Wire documented various incidents of violence and communal clashes in Nagpur, Mira Road, Panvel, and Pune in Maharashtra.
At the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, a peaceful protest by the students’ union under the banner ‘Remembering Babri’ was disrupted when men with saffron scarves set the banner on fire, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and expressing intent to destroy more religious symbols.
In Madhya Pradesh, right-wing activists planted a saffron flag on the holy cross of a church, a sacred Christian symbol. Similar incidents occurred in Jhabua district, with saffron flags raised in villages, escalating religious tensions.
Now everyday India. Congratulations pic.twitter.com/PKPNTMamf5
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) January 21, 2024
The events highlight a surge in communal tensions and violence following the inauguration of the Ayodhya temple, indicating broader challenges related to religious harmony and political polarization in certain regions of India.
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