Religious violence in India: Difference between revisions
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{{Off-topic-other|List of notable riots}} |
{{Off-topic-other|List of notable riots}} |
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The nation of [[India]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]] has some of the most ancient and varied religions practices. More than four-fifths of Indians practice Hinduism. Islam, practised by around one-sixth of the population, is the most prevalent minority religion. Christianity and Sikhism are each practised by around 2% of Indians.<ref name="COI_2001">{{cite web |title=Census of India 2001: Data on Religion |url=http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ |accessdate=2007-08-07 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General, India}}.</ref> About 1.1% practise Buddhism and 0.4% practise Jainism. [[Zoroastrianism]] and [[Judaism]] have a centuries-long history in India; each has several thousand Indian adherents. Violence by religiously motivated individuals has occurred against religious institutions and members of a different group. This violence includes the targetting of religious institutions, the persecution of people on the basis of their religion. |
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While usually India and the Indian subcontinent were and are known for religious plurality, there are notable instances where this communal harmony has been disrupted. |
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==1984 Anti-Sikh Riots== |
==1984 Anti-Sikh Riots== |
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Revision as of 23:06, 9 December 2007
 | This section may contain material not related to the topic of the article and should be moved to List of notable riots instead. |
The nation of India and the Indian subcontinent has some of the most ancient and varied religions practices. More than four-fifths of Indians practice Hinduism. Islam, practised by around one-sixth of the population, is the most prevalent minority religion. Christianity and Sikhism are each practised by around 2% of Indians.[1] About 1.1% practise Buddhism and 0.4% practise Jainism. Zoroastrianism and Judaism have a centuries-long history in India; each has several thousand Indian adherents. Violence by religiously motivated individuals has occurred against religious institutions and members of a different group. This violence includes the targetting of religious institutions, the persecution of people on the basis of their religion.
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place in India after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by two of her Sikh guards as a retaliatory of Operation Bluestar.
The riots started on 1st November and continued till 3rd November 1984. The killings were led by activists and sympathizers of Indian National Congress. The first killing of a Sikh reported from east Delhi in the early hours of November 1. About 9 am, armed mobs took over the streets of Delhi and launched a massacre. Everywhere the first targets were Gurudwaras – to prevent Sikhs from collecting there and putting up a combined defence. The then Congress government was widely criticized for doing very little at the time, possibly acting as a conspirator, especially since voting lists were used to identify Sikh families. [2]
Ayodhya and Babri Mosque
On December 6, 1992, a group of Hindus destroyed the 430 year old Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, the land to be the birthplace of Rama. The resulting religious riots caused at least 1200 deaths.[3][4]
Bombay Riots
The 1992 riots were occurred in Mumbai. Arson, killings and property destruction occurred in different areas. Bombay burned when religious fundamentalists demolished the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. Caught in the flames fanned by communal elements were ordinary citizens, 500 of who met violent deaths in the worst-ever riots to rock the country since the partition. Every suburb of Bombay had a chilling incident to narrate. Four persons were burnt to death in a fire in the Asalpha timber mart at Ghatkopar, five were killed in Bainganwadi firing; hutments along the harbour line track between Sewri and Cotton Green stations were gutted; and a couple was pulled out of rickshaw in Asalpha village and burnt to death. Reference
2002 Gujarat violence
In 2002 a series of communal riots took place between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat in February-May 2002, sparked by the Godhra Train Burning. According to the death toll given to the parliament on May 11, 2005 by the government, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, and another 2,548 injured. 223 people are missing. The report placed the number of riot widows at 919 and 606 children were declared orphaned.[5][6][7] According to human rights groups, the death tolls were up to 2000.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] According to the United States Congressional Research Service the upto 2000, mostly Muslim were killed in the violence.[15] Tens of thousands were displaced from their homes because of the violence.
Anti-Christian violence
According to Human Rights Watch, there is large-scale violence being perpetrated by Hindu Nationalists against Christians.[16] According to author Vinay Lal, the increase in anti-Christian violence in India bears a direct relationship to the ascendancy of the right wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[17] From 1964 to 1996, 38 incidents of violence against Christians were reported. In 1997, 24 such incidents were reported. In 1998, 90 incidents were reported.[18] These incidents have occurred in many parts of India, especially prevalent in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi.The form of violence include killings of priests, destruction of churches, Christian schools, colleges, and cemeteries.[16] In Gujarat 22 churches were burnt or destroyed, and another 16 damaged in 1997.[19] On November 5 1999, 26 students of St. Joseph’s Evening College in Bangalore were attacked by VHP activists for converting Hindus to Christianity.[20]
Violence against Hindus
In North-East India, separatist Christian militant groups have emerged.[21] The National Liberation Front of Tripura, a separatist group, wants to convert all tribals in the Tripura to Christianity.[22] It has carried out many violent acts, including kidnapping and murders of RSS members and Hindu priests.[23][22] The Baptist Church of Tripura has backed NLFT, and its members have confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT.[24]
In the Kashmir region, many Kashmiri Pandits have been killed by Islamist militants in incidents such as the Wandhama massacre and the 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre.[25][26][27][28][29] Since March 1990, nearly 2.5 lakh pandits have migrated outside Kashmir due to persecution by Islamic fundamentalists.[30]
References
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data on Religion". Office of the Registrar General, India. Retrieved 2007-08-07..
- ^ Swadesh Bahadur Singh (editor of the Sher-i-Panjâb weekly): “Cabinet berth for a Sikh”, Indian Express, 31-5-1996.
- ^ Gargan, Edward (December 16, 1992). "India, Acting on Militants, Ousts Local Rulers". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Serrill, Michael (December 21, 1992). "The Unholy War". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Gujarat riot death toll revealed,BBC
- ^ BJP cites govt statistics to defend Modi,Indian Express
- ^ 254 Hindus, 790 Muslims killed in post-Godhra riots,Indiainfo.com
- ^ Human Rights Watch 2006, p. 265.
- ^ "Talibanization" and "Saffronization" in India,hir.harvard.edu
- ^ Why is Narendra Modi in Wembley?,The Guardian
- ^ India Shining, Communal Darkness,pucl.org
- ^ India's Calculated Ethnic Violence
- ^ Communal violence and nuclear stand-off
- ^ India in crisis
- ^ India-U.S. Relations
- ^ a b "Anti-Christian Violence on the Rise in India".
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ Caste as vested interest [The Hindu]
- ^ Fernandes, Edna. "Part II: The Crusaders, Chapter 11: 'Nagaland for Christ'". Holy Warriors: A Journey Into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism. Penguin Global. ISBN 978-0670058709.
- ^ a b "Hindu preacher killed by Tripura rebels". BBC. 28 August 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Violence in Northeast India". Hinduism today. 2005. ISSN 0896-0801. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Church backing Tripura rebels". BBC. April 18 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "'I heard the cries of my mother and sisters'". Rediff. 27 January 1998. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ {{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040428/j&k.htm#1 | title = Migrant Pandits voted for end of terror in valley | publisher = The Tribune | date = April 27 [[]2004] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}
- ^ "At least 58 dead in 2 attacks in Kashmir". CNN. August 2 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "City shocked at killing of Kashmiri Pandits". The Times of India. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Phil Reeves (March 25 2003). "Islamic militants kill 24 Hindus in Kashmir massacre". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Kashmiri Pandits in Nandimarg decide to leave Valley". Outlook. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)