In April 2022, during the celebrations of Sri Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals, communal violence, targeted attacks on minorities, and a general breakdown of law and order were witnessed in twelve states of India, both under the BJP and non-BJP rule. However, in stark contrast, the state of Telangana remained peaceful during such processions, and no such incidents were reported.
This remarkable fact was brought to light in a recent report titled 'Routes of Wrath-Weaponizing Religious Processions' released by the 'Citizens and Lawyers Initiative', with a forward by Justice Rohinton Nariman, former Judge Supreme Court of India.
The report extensively documented incidents of communal violence that occurred during these religious processions in several states of India, such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka in 2022.
However, the report noted that the processions in Telangana concluded peacefully, and this was attributed to the efficient planning and firmness of the Telangana police and the High Court in preventing any violence. The report stated that "Take away from Telangana's handling of these religious processions is that where the administration and courts wish to prevent communal clashes and riots even while allowing religious processions, they can."
The report also delved into the root cause of violence during these religious processions, highlighting how they were weaponized and became a catalyst for violence. In contrast, Telangana's success in ensuring peaceful processions demonstrated that it is possible to prevent communal clashes and riots while allowing religious processions, provided there is adequate planning, firmness, and commitment from the authorities.
