Trinamool Congress has been competing with Bharatiya Janata Party and its other Hindutva allies in aiding and organizing such processions as revealed by a recent report on Ram Navami procession and related communal violence in West Bengal from 2016 to 2023.
Research conducted by AMRA Ek Sachetan Prayas, titled “West Bengal: Post Ramanavami Communal Riot (2016-23),” highlights some instances of communal flare up at Asansol-Raniganj, Howrah and Rishra.
The report was released to the public by social activist Harsh Mander in Srirampur, Hooghly district earlier this month.
According to the study, prior to 2016, Ram Navami was mostly limited to Hindi-speaking regions of West Bengal. After BJP came to power at the Centre, these processions started being organized by BJP and its allies.
“Initially, these were not violent or aggressive. Slowly they turned into big rallies. A few years later weapons appeared during Ram Navami processions like seen in Muharram processions too. First it was bow & arrow; then swords along with different types of sharp edged weapons began making appearances. In recent times there have also been reports of people carrying firearms during Ram Navami processions,” said the report.
The surveyors who did field surveys & fact-finding after these events expressed concern about involvement of children in such rallies. “In some places even children have been given arms”, says the report.
Co-editor Subha Protim Roy Chowdhury said since 2014 the BJP with its allies has used West Bengal as ‘a laboratory for its communal project’ making things like Bharat Mata Puja, Ganga Aarti and Ram Navami procession part of that project.
Mr.Roy Chowdhury said that on most routes where these Ram navmi processions pass there are multi cultural areas as well as minority concentrated areas prone to communal provocation.
At many places in the state, Trinamool congress leaders were seen vying for Ram Navami processions with BJP, said Mohit Ranadip, another co-editor of the publication.
“Many times we have observed that people who go around carrying TMC flags during the day time indulge in communal activities at night. The Asansol Ram Navami riots of 2018 is a clear example of this,” Mr. Ranadip stated.
In addition, questions are raised about how permissions are given by district administration not only for one day but also over multiple days for such events related to Ram Navami.
Speaking at the launch of a 142-page-report, Harsh Mander, founder Karwan e Mohabbat (Caravan of Love), said that it takes courage to speak truth and this report brings out truth in present times when so little truth is spoken.
Dr.Suman Nath, an Anthropology professor at a government college revealed that AMRA has previously published reports on various conflicts including those involving religious tensions like Telinipara riots in Hooghly and Bhatpara and Basirhat riots of North 24 Parganas.
The report also finds out that there is an increase in number Islamic Jalshas and Madrasas alongside increase in Ram Navami processions.
AMRA’s publication, a team of multidisciplinary researchers among other things, also has some bright spots in it where victims of public violence talk about peace and brotherhood.
The document acknowledges the contributions of Imam Rashidi, Asansol who lost his son to the communal clashes but still preaches peace and played a major role in preventing any further outbreak at Asansol in 2018. In a similar vein, even as Pratima Devi’s family claimed that she died after being hit by a police car during the Asansol riots, they did not allow her death to be used for political gains on religious lines.
