Has the Narendra Modi regime normalised violence in a way that could hurt the Prime Minister himself? Has he created a Frankenstein monster that he cannot destroy?
That is the real question to ask, as we sit back and reflect on the Delhi violence that could have been a pogrom. It began on Sunday as a confrontation between police and protesters. After BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s provocation, it became a Hindu-Muslim riot on Monday. By Tuesday, it had become one-sided anti-Muslim violence that reminded everyone of 1984. I write these lines on Wednesday noon when there are some indications of the violence that engulfed the national capital for three days ebbing. Official death toll at this moment is 24 – informal estimates put it at double this figure – but there are no fresh incidents of murderous assaults of the kind we witnessed on Monday and Tuesday.
The violence that threatened to spread to other areas of East Delhi on Tuesday evening has been contained to the original hotspots in the northeast of Delhi. Mobs that were ruling the street Tuesday as Delhi Police personnel stood watching or joined them are finally being chased out. Our 24×7 crisis management and support team tells me that since Tuesday midnight, police are responding positively to their calls for help. The heroic 2 am intervention by the Delhi High Court to order police to allow safe passage so that the injured could be taken to the hospital has certainly helped. We may have just stepped back from the brink of another 1984-type pogrom in the national capital.
Also read: The Delhi pogrom 2020 is Amit Shah’s answer to an election defeat
Political will
What saved Delhi from a much bigger disaster? And what led us in that direction of the disaster in the first place? Delhi riots conform to the good old wisdom about mass violence in India: political will matters. Our police force is not such a professional organisation that can be trusted to combat violence, no matter what the regime is like. Sadly, our police force is very pliable. Non-transparent recruitment, poor quality of training, inherited prejudices, shoddy working conditions, and lack of mechanisms of autonomy or accountability have turned our police into a force that the ruling party can bend to its political requirements. The police cracks down or looks the other way depending on how the political masters want it to.
This begs deeper questions: why was Delhi allowed to burn for two days? What was the political logic behind this violence? And why were the brakes applied when they were?
There are two obvious theories that answer these questions. Many Modi critics believe that this was part of a grand political design by his regime to silence its critics and the anti-CAA protests. His supporters have floated a theory that this was a Muslim conspiracy to embarrass the regime when US President Donald Trump was visiting India. Neither of these theories fits the facts of the case.
Also read: Riot-hit Northeast Delhi has 1 MP, 7 MLAs but only one has visited his constituency
Who benefits?
Given the track record of Modi and Amit Shah (Home Minister), it is easy to believe in any conspiracy theory. But the fact remains that the timing of the riots made no sense from the Modi regime’s point of view. The Delhi election was over. The US President’s visit mattered a lot to the Modi government, and, cringingly so, to the PM personally.
This was also a moment for Modi to recover his image in the global media, something he craves for. The last thing anyone in his position would have liked to see was the national capital up in flames along the divide everyone suspects him to be fuelling. Yes, Donald Trump is not exactly a bleeding-heart liberal. And he could be relied upon to spout inaccurate inanities when asked questions about religious tolerance in the press conference. Yet there was no way the bitter and embarrassing truth could be concealed.
More than its religious intolerance, what came across was the Modi regime’s tolerance of street violence and hooliganism, right under its nose. To a foreign investor, India must have looked like Pakistan or Nigeria. This must be a nightmare not just for the diplomats, but also for the political class. So, as soon as Trump departed and the political attention was back on Delhi, orders were given to stop the violence from spreading further.
Conspiracy angle
The idea of a grand Islamic conspiracy to malign India during Trump’s visit is even more ridiculous. The fact is that the call for a Bharat Bandh was for 23 February, a day prior to Trump’s landing in Delhi. The call was not on CAA-NRC-NPR, but on the issue of caste-based reservations. This was not supported by any major organisation or coalition involved in the anti-CAA protest.
Predictably, the Bandh failed. Only three out of nearly two dozen Delhi sit-ins responded to this call for ‘solidarity’ by blocking nearby roads. Most anti-CAA protesters kept away, if not dissuade the protesters who blocked the road in Jaffrabad area. The protesters could be accused of irresponsibility or adventurism, but it would take special imagination to read into this isolated act in a corner of Delhi a grand conspiracy to embarrass Modi during Trump’s visit. At any rate, such a ‘conspiracy’ would not have succeeded without active collaboration by BJP leader Kapil Mishra and the street goons shouting Jai Shri Ram. Islamic conspiracy must indeed be grand if it can rope in Sangh Parivar cadre at will!
Also read: SC says total lack of police independence a reason they could not curb Delhi riots
Three elements
My theory is relatively simple. Modi did not want, far less design, street violence in Delhi during the high-profile visit of Trump. His opponents did not – and were in no position to – plan or execute this violence. But this was no accident. It was the result of a package of explosives that this regime has assiduously stacked together.
This stack has three elements. One, there is a climate of hate. In recent times, top BJP leaders have injected an incredible amount of anti-Muslim venom, fanned by the BJP’s propaganda machine and disseminated by the obedient mass media. This provides for dry ammunition, ready for a spark. It also keeps opposition parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) quiet, lest they lose Hindu sympathy.
Two, Modi’s BJP has also created an unprecedented career incentive for purveyors of political hatred. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s career graph shows a path to Kapil Mishras of the world. MP Pragya Thakur’s continuation in the party assures them of political immunity. Thus, there is a steady supply of adventurous ‘leaders’ ready to play with communal fire.
The third element in this equation is a pliant police and bureaucracy. Systematic assault on autonomous institutions has ensured that no one speaks up. After the criminal assault on Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), everyone in Delhi Police knows that it is wise to look away from violence perpetrated by goons affiliated to the BJP.
That is exactly what happened in northeast Delhi. BJP’s election campaign had spread hatred and distrust in the air. Kapil Mishra ignited it. The AAP government dithered. And the police looked the other way, even on a day that the PM may not have wanted this to happen. It needed a direct intervention from the very top to halt this normal pattern of violence from escalating further.
Come to think of it, this auto-triggered violence is more dangerous than a designed riot.
Yogendra Yadav is so liberal and democratic that he can’t even call spade a spade. If Modi and shah were so autocratic, this vulture would have been jailed long time ago. You should thank Modi and shah that you are still safe and spreading venom against the general public.
Stupid analysis
Do you bother to explain how it was a anti Muslim movement, if protesters were Muslims, fighting for Muslims, extensively using catapults, stones and petrol bombs stored on rooftops, of buildings in areas with majority of Muslim population.
I AGREE WITH YOU TO A LARGE EXTENT I think our education system failed to modernise the mindset of CHILDREN of how to.be.a good.citizen not just Hindu or Muslim
Yogendra yadavs analysis is very much influenced by the biases that exists with all so called pseudo secular. They fail to see the rise of this BJP fringe elements due to their propogation of bias in all matters related to minority
AUTHOR IS EITHER STUPID OR RSS AGENT…..THIS TIME WAS CHOSEN BY SANGHIS …SO THAT THEY CAN BLAME OPPOSITION AND MUSLIMS FOR THE VIOLENCE…IF SANGHIS REALLY DONT WANT ANY RIOT…IT WILL NOT HAPPEN…EVEN IF IT HAPPENS…..THEY WOULD HAVE CONTROLLED IT IN 2 HRS…
These riots were well planned and timed during US president’s India visit. By the group that is protesting the CAA. Ironically they haven’t read it! The law passed by parliament, allows minority refugees from neighboring countries get citizenship & new life, not take it from anyone!
Dozen of Hindus also brutally killed in the riots. Should talk about Ankit Sharma and police officer like Ratan Lall, we should also talk about muslim radicals such as Shahrukh, and Tahir Hussain who openly are seen with guns and leading mob. However no one is talking about the sufferings of hindus in these riots. I hope the truth about people behind these riots are found out and prosecuted and peace and harmony is restored back.
Biased and motivated individuals creating hindu phobia, are the reason most people now don’t trust the main stream media anymore.
Very True..
Yogendra Yadav is talking rubbish to save CONgress, AAP, Communists, Urban Naxals, LOOTyens, All Anti Indian elements combined to create ANTI CAA – ANTI HINDU GENOCIDE. – TAHIR HUSSAIN.. SHARJEEL IMAM – TUKDE TUKDE GANG..
PFI – SOROS – Kapil Sibal – Money Links..
Hundreds of Proofs have emerged on HOW & WHO DISTRIBUTED ACID, PETROL BOMBS..
Problem in the theory that Modi govt didn’t want riots is that why it took them 3 days to give orders to the police to stop the riots?
Surely Amit Shah couldn’t have been that busy or that inaccessible to spare 5 minutes for a phone call to order Commissioner of police to stop riots! And indeed if it’s so then even God won’t be able to help this country.
Such a biased article.The trouble started due to the protest against CAA and all the hate speeches given by irresponsible opposition leaders,why don’t you emphasise on the fact that CAA doesn’t affect any legal Indian citizen but it is all about giving citizenship to oppressed minority from neighbouring countries,a move which has to be appreciated by sane people.In what way are the Muslims oppressed in this country they enjoy all rights like any body else,well as a common man all we can see is the hate for Modi which is driving everyone to this endless damage done to the country.
Totally agree with the assessment. The Print has all these reporters going out in the fields suppose to make unbiased reports. Nothing is mentioned about Shaheen Bagh so call protest where demonstrators block the main Delhi road for over 50 days and cause hardship to ordinary people. Also no mention about terror factory of creating live missile to hit ordinary people by senior AAM party member.
I am just a common citizen, not of any religion .I want to go to work to earn for my family. If my path is stopped in metro, road or anywhere by a 2nd party who I don’t know, just because this 2 nd party is fighting with 3 Rd party, then what should I do?
The second party is protesting against the nefarious design of the clever usage of CAA and hinted proposal of NRC (by none other than PM and Home Minister in parliament. See Rajya Sabha footage) to create hurdles for Muslims in the country. Before, whenever people protested government of the day used to approach the protestors to take in theirs views (for ex. corruption protest during Anna Hazare movement). Therefore, citizens must request central government to address the concerns of the protestors and release the road for normal usage.
Justifying shaheenbag protest is ridiculous. It’s a factory of goons supported by so called communist brigade and tukde tukde gang, floating anti india and anti hindu slogans. Anger among common people against these jihadi talents kept on accumulating. Still, Hindus being most tolerant since thousand years, did not start the violance. However, the Shaheen bagh goons ventured to test the tolerance, damaged Hindus and their worship places and police failed to control that. Repercussion is before all of us. My point is, if a media takes a particular side and fortifying to bias, one has to believe that it is sold to the conspirators.
Mr Yogendra Yadav is a failed politician and a failed anarchist. Now he is also a failed journalist. This is a meaningless article which does not detail Chandrasekhar Azad, Waris Pathan and Tahir Hussein!!!!!!!! This joker failed politician believes that there is no link between a call for violence on February 23,2020 and the riots beginning the same day!!!!!! This is so asinine that I question the editorial board of The Print for printing such utter gibberish.
Did Kapil Mishra spat venom ? How do you hold him responsible ? What about AAP leaders and a dozen others who were provoking majority Hindus like 15 Crores vs 100 Crores. Owaisi, Amanatulla, Gandhi family etc. Kapil Mishra simply states either the government removes protesters from road blockades or the suffering citizens would do it. The article ignores the preparations made by one particular community by assembling Syria style catapults, petrol bombs, acid bombs and bricks on top of their houses. Koran teaches them to be Jehadis. I have read it. Stop fooling us.
WHENEVER SANGHIS SPEAK ONLY SH..IT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS…..INTENTIONALLY THESE SANGHIS DO THIS…THEN WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT…..ACTUALLY SANGHIS DONE THIS TO BLAME MUSLIMS ….AS USUAL THEIR COWARDLY TACTICS….
Why did you have to hide your real name to comment?
I was expecting an article analysing the roots of the riots.If BOTH sides are not responsible who else is behind RIOTS Why did soe keeep bombs etc.under their custody.?.{1} He did not validate his argument to prove that Anti-Govt organisations had no hand in the RIOTs .Just because they did not give an open SUPPORT to Feb 23 rd Bundh,is not enough to say that they are innocent.The protesters had been using Jamia and JNU for months as a launching pad. To provide a silent support during TRUMP”s visit when the Govt will not be to able to intervene effectively was the easiest thing. Local BJP leaders speech converted “attacks” into a “riot”.
The Print published the article just because it was written by mr.Yadav.
highly biased story….
Planning was not done after Kapil Mishra statement ,it is done very done as future gain coming Bihar Election . After gaining bumper victory , AAP more enthusiastic as National Hero projections . Areas where mostly labourers hindu & muslim live in cramped lane as renter targets to flushed out to return Bihar with bitter experience . Muslim voters wining population who cast their in favour of AAP . RJD now loosing ground as whole after family disturbance ( lalu jee) Bihar is facing huge Muslim ( Bangladeshi) migration in bordering areas . As a whole we are going a very wrong direction in name of CAA
Waris Pathan and Islamic zehadists par भी दो line बोल देते।।
why is the govt so very interested inCAA helping ppl from other countries , when it is killing people who are current citizens of india. Is it their EGO , they dot want to let go.?
As a outsider I can’t comment on how the Delhi riot got triggered. But I agree with the author that a atmosphere of hatred is there in India and it is not good for the country. I hope to see a peaceful atmosphere prevail here
Bloody commie stooge. Wake up now the world knows about your commie Jihadi nexus.
Add anti national, sedetionist, tukde tukde, traitor, urban naxal etc also to your list.
It’s a balanced article. I read most of the opinions. Some are bias and blindly in love with some political parties. In my opinion a leader of a state or nation who took oath to respect the Constitution of India should not behave or deliver speech like a religious leader.
Chakka Yadav and his gooseberry theories !!!
A lot of fanatic muslims created this Anti CAA issue to use it create it into an Islamic Fight against Hindus. Hindus tolerated all those Hate Speaches and Bus Burning and Constant Attacks coming out from Muslims and Leftists patiently for last 3 months. But there is always a limit. Hindus just did what was needed to stop this non sense when all political parties from those who supported it like Aap and Congress to those against it like bjp did nothing. People who call themselves Muslims must leave Islam and accept humanity as way of life. Otherwise they are just taking their next generation to Hate.
Haha…so very much expected of you..u r sweet poison.. started off giving clean chit to modi and shah and ended blaming them for every thing. Way to go!
I am neither Hindu nor Muslim. I am atheist or Naastik. The CAA was misunderstood by Muslim people and Maulvis fed their fear. The Muslim ladies sitting at Shaheen Bagh for over 60 days caused anger to all. They were being fed and paid to sit there.. Even today they sit there. Have not the riots taught them that people are fed up of their pseudo suffering mentality? Both Hindu and Muslim leaders have incited the mobs and are responsible. These ladies sitting on strike will again bring matters to a boil. It is easy to blame Modi and Shah. Members of both groups will die. We have not seen the end of this uprising. Beware. Let a senior government functioary go and disperse these ladies. No body will fall low if he or she explins to the protesters and disperses them. Even Modiji can go. He will rise in stature.
A very well written article no doubt about that. On the face it seems like this is a partial washing of the theory that modi and shah wanted this, but on a much more broader understanding this article plays with the subconscious. In the overall you are twisted into thinking is this the bjp’s dark side adding pragya thakurs name to it was the master stroke and ending it with the line an automatic reaction instead of a designed one being more dangerous. From the view point of a novel reader fantastic. I’m seriously waiting for this person to write a novel or a movie script.
On Benefit part, He didnt made any conclusion. knowing Riots in same city while US President and World media is covering, dont give BJP any extra leavrage, infact its a backfoot for BJP. but didnt made clear opposition will benefits it. Kapil Mishra is Mentioned but not AAP counselor. Totally Biased Respect for you biased media.
This is written only to blame majority and smartly spare the mornorities.
What is expected from Yusuf Yadav.?
Actually, we should not read such newspapers and boycott it. And before reading, condirm the writer and then proceed to avoid loss of time. It is game big plan.
The MOST absurd theory ive ever read! And the way you looked away at Muslim “Secular” leaders provocations of 15 cr vs 100 cr was expected! No doubts with such articles your credibility if completely ZERO!
Plus naming Kapil Mishra and making him responsible is again absurd! His request was for cleaning of the roads off these so called anti CAA protesters. Can you comment whether it is LEGAL for these protesters to BLOCK roads and cause hardships to comman people??
I cant say anything more than “A PAID Article”
VERY VERY LOW I Q LABEL THINKING PERSON BECOMES THE WRITER,
Is this a communist news print??? It got to be…So much hatred against ruling party…it’s people like this writer who are taking the country backwards
Biased and completely partisan thinking of author.
The large-scale use of country made firearms seems to indicate a level of preparedness that the author is happy to ignore. The police may be sympathetic to a point of view, but they were armed well enough to have caused a vertiable blood-bath, had they chosen to. The restrain exhibited points to a maturing of the force and its ability to rise over personal biases. Obviously, both sides will then conclude that the police was ineffective and did a shoddy job.
Your analysis is fact less. U said when Kapil Mishra entered it became Hindu Muslim riot. Otherwise to if they have taken your house under CAA protest, that would also be peaceful? Block the road, burn the buses because I am not paying a single Penny as tax to countries growth.
Disgusting reproduction of d typical Lobby spreading anti India n anti Hindu narrative…India has to filter out n take care of ppl like d author of this filthy narrative, till v dnt check such JaiChands…V have little hope. From Kashmir to Kerala to WB…same JIHADI narrative has been shielded by creating a Feeble binary of concocted Hindu aggression. Either v stop being forgiving to such Traitors harming d land which gave them refuge after religious partition of 1947 or v can continue being eaten from INSIDE.
This article has made me sick with anger n helplessness as a Hindu.
Honestly Rahul, what are you helpless about. Who is attacking you. What is happening to you that’s making you feel so helpless and sad. You are the majority. Ruling party is in your favour. Why are you helpless?
Majority, but a fragmented majority. We are angry about the sham secularism. Profit making non-aided minority schools are exempt from RTE, but profit making non-aided schools by Hindus are not. Either exempt both are bring both under RTE. This is just an example of how secularism works. This so called government of the Hindus doesn’t even have a sense of fairplay leave alone favouring Hindus.
You are the problem – an ill educated, religious nutter who hails drinking urine and eating faeces (of the cow, admittedly). I bet your illiterate mother is proud of her ladla beta! The CAA is utter nonsense. Even the UN who has no skin in the game are denouncing. Hear this – India is NOT a Hindu nation, it will never be one! Shameless fellow! Defending violence! I bet you ran with the rioters in Delhi. Must have pleased your master, Mr. Amit Gunda Shah.
With due respects why call his mother illiterate?..is this ur culture? Further, eating cows flesh including its ass, buttoks doesnt bother u, killing a small calf in name of veil, without any mercy doesnt bother u..why just indulge in cow urine fight or dragging his mother? Further mind u, vegetarianism or veganism has nothing to do with religion..if so why vegetarianism is on rise in usa and aus and europe? Why chritianised ethiopia is a vegan friendly country
What is LEFT LIBERAL INTELLECTUAL ?
He is with a good command on language and ability to poke holes in any thing and every thing.
He is devoid of any managerial ability or skills.
He never has a solution to any problem, he believes that asking questions is intelligence as the media thinks.
Nobody will tolerate beyond a point but he makes good substance for a cock-fight or TAMASHA
Wah…. Doest even allow to comment now?
Btw..How much you charge per article to save AAP n put the blame on right wing n BJP?
SHAME ON YOU…… DON’T FORGET THAT KARMA WILL HIT YOU BACK…… IN THE HARDEST WAY
Half of these comments about how the author of the article blames Narendra Modi and his govt is ridiculous. I mean, please read through before making a comment, at least! And yes, it is a hate sponsonsed violence, something which our ruling party turned into a political campaign and you so naively agreed upon and voted him to power. Remember? At least, AAP is trying to mend it’s member’s prejudice and asking for a strict punishment for the accused. All BJP did was call a press conference and blame the opposition!
This government has no consideration for it’s people who put it to power. All it works for is its own benefits, they don’t even try to do the minimal good to the citizens. Half of its schemes are unfulfilled, unorganized and leads to failure. It’s economic decision puts the country to shambles. And as if, all of it was not enough, it associates people to form IT cell, bribes the news media to spread more violence and arrogantly denies the blame. SHAME!
SirJi. Why don’t you step back and start from AntiCAA protest and it’s side effects on general public ? Why don’t you look into the Hate speeches by so called liberals across India ? Why don’t you look into the planned murder of IB officer by AAP leader who amassed criminal weapons ?
The problem with liberal is they turned off right side of the brain .
We need Indian who demand for punishment to those who breaks law and order regardless of their affiliation.
Unfortunately politics takes precedence over society and national interest .
Till then we will always be in this situation
It’s an unfortunate event where many government officials were killed most importantly the IB officer.
But quint is either blind or one eyed when it said that it was Kapil Mishra from BJP who spun hatred.
Now locals are saying that Tahir Hussain from AAP is responsible for the attack or riot.
Now I think either it’s a plot of AAP or the Jihadi Organization who has a particular agenda on a particular issue..
This yadav guy is one of the sickest person u will ever meet. He is so sick that even kejariwal had to shown him doors from AAP. Needs urgent treatment at NIMHANS Banglore.
Yogendra Yadav just can’t do better. Lousy one sided concocted thought process. Lacks depth and substance and reeks of hatred towards the BJP.
To an extent, the view is plausible, the gainers would have been the Left. Still the centre could have intervened and delay the transfer of Delhi HC Judge at this crucial juncture- signals are not right.
It’s the same way left front leaders used to operate when they were in power in WB for over three decades. These were called “running shows” used to take place in different pockets. Now that they are not in power anywhere it seems , the Commies are staging these street dramas. As in earlier days innocent people got killed . Same thing is happening now.
It is Conspiracy by Tahir Hussain
Our HM had said during electoral campaign that Press the Button So Hard here in Babarpur so that Current must be felt by Shaheen Bagh. So I think the Supporters of ruling party pressed the button.
Thank God, such stupid inferences appear only in a shit sheet like yours.
It is clear that the writer is biased
Aam aadmi party is designer of this riot. Instead of free bijli pani they are giving free atankwaad.
Police showed restraint to show humanity if they had orders to shoot it wouldnot have gone this far