The violent clashes that erupted in Nagpur on March 17 have elicited strong responses from various political quarters, particularly from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] and the Left Front. Both have condemned the violence and raised serious concerns regarding the role of the state government and law enforcement authorities in handling the escalating tensions.
Left Front’s call for judicial inquiry
In a meeting held at the Communist Party of India (Marxist) office in Nagpur on March 18, the Left Front expressed shock over the violence in Nagpur, a city not historically known for communal strife. The party questioned the police’s decision to permit the effigy-burning protest organised by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) at Shivaji Chowk. It argued that if the authorities had taken prompt action against those responsible for inciting communal sentiments—particularly given that the protesters had engaged in similar activities twice before—the violence that erupted later that night could have been prevented. Reports have suggested that apart from burning of the effigy, these BD and VHP men had also desecrated the chadar of the local dargah.
The Left Front has demanded a judicial inquiry into the entire incident, holding the police accountable for their inaction. The party has also called for strict measures against all anti-social elements and urged public representatives, including the Chief Minister, to make inclusive statements to help restore peace. In this regard, a delegation from the Left Front will present a statement to the District Collector and Police Commissioner, seeking immediate intervention. Additionally, an all-party meeting has been proposed to address the communal tensions and find ways to prevent such incidents in the future.
CPI(M) deems the incident as a conspiracy to escalate communal tensions
The CPI(M) has taken a stronger stance, attributing the riots in Nagpur to a deliberate conspiracy by fanatic forces with political motives. According to Dr. Ajit Navale, the party’s state secretary, the violence is part of a larger effort to divert public attention from pressing livelihood issues and economic distress. He alleged that communal tensions were being deliberately escalated to serve political interests, particularly in light of the state government’s failure to address governance challenges.
The party criticised ministers in the state government for making provocative statements, for weeks before the violence broke out, that encouraged religious polarisation. CPI(M) warned that extremist organisations are emboldened by the ruling dispensation’s tacit support, creating an atmosphere where communal violence can flourish. The party has demanded that the state government take a non-partisan approach and act decisively against those responsible for inciting violence.
Readers of Sabrangindia will recall, how Maharashtra has been allowed, by the earlier Eknath Shinde and now Devendra Fadnavis-led governments to host repeated events where controversial figures delivered provocative hate speeches that have undoubtedly left their impact on the social fabric. These have been extensively reported by us since September 2022. (More on this can be read here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)
Nagpur Violence: A politically motivated communal flare-up?
The background of the Nagpur violence suggests a calculated effort to inflame religious sentiments. The protest demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Maharashtra—organised by the VHP and Bajrang Dal—escalated when protesters burned a symbolic grave wrapped in a green cloth, allegedly picked up from a nearby local dargah. Despite the fact that the caretakers of the shrine went to the local police urging immediate action against these communal miscreants, reportedly no steps were taken by the police other than the filing of an FIR, either to prevent the burning or thereafter.
The act and subsequent police non-response or inaction, reportedly led to rumours that sacred verses were being desecrated, which provoked a violent reaction from members of the minority community. The ensuing clashes resulted in widespread destruction, including arson, injuries to security personnel, and police vans being set ablaze.
The CPI(M) has linked these events to a broader pattern of communal agitation in Maharashtra, accusing the ruling establishment of tacitly encouraging such incidents to shift focus from governance failures. The party has pointed to the state’s worsening financial condition, rising public dissatisfaction, and economic distress as underlying factors that the government seeks to obscure through divisive politics.
Demands for action and restoration of peace
In response to these developments, the Left Front and CPI(M) have jointly called for immediate measures to restore communal harmony. Their demands include:
- A judicial inquiry into the Nagpur violence to identify those responsible.
- Action against extremist groups that incite communal discord.
- Holding police accountable for their failure to act in a timely manner.
- Non-partisan handling of law and order by the state government.
- Public representatives making statements that foster unity rather than division.
The CPI(M) has also appealed to the people of Maharashtra to reject communal provocations and recognise the political motivations behind such incidents. They urge citizens to remain vigilant against attempts to use religious polarisation as a tool to divert attention from critical governance and economic issues.
As Maharashtra reels from the aftermath of the Nagpur violence, the response of the state government and law enforcement agencies will be crucial in determining whether justice is served and whether communal harmony can be preserved in the face of escalating tensions.
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