Violence in Vadodara: Earlier Garba, now Diwali

Violence in Vadodara: It is often propagated by the left-liberal cabal that India is becoming a majoritarian state where the other religious communities are forced to live as second-class citizens. And it is claimed that all this is happening under the watch of the Bhartiya Janata Party and its netas, which is often addressed as the Hindu nationalist party by the intellectuals. However, the constant attacks on Hindus, specifically during festivals, narrate a different story altogether.

Violence : Hindus attacked on Diwali night in Vadodara

No Hindu festival can be celebrated in India without any reports of violence. Yesterday, on the night of Diwali, violence broke out in the Panigate area of Vadodara, Gujarat. As per reports, an argument took place regarding the bursting of crackers on Diwali, which turned into violence. The minor issue turned out to be another attack on Hindus on the occasion of a grand Hindu festival. Reports suggest that stones were pelted, and vandalism took place. Petrol bombs were also hurled.

The situation is now under control and, along with heavy force deployment and patrolling, 19 people have been apprehended so far. Those detained included a person who allegedly hurled a petrol bomb at policemen from the third floor of a house in the locality nearly an hour after the clash broke out, Vadodara Deputy Commissioner of Police Yashpal Jaganiya said.

The situation had heated up earlier during the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi as well, when stones were pelted at the procession during Visarjan.

Also Read- Garba is not a secular festival, how hard is it to understand

VHP narrates a different story altogether

While the Gujarat Police are still investigating, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vadodara Mantri, Vishnu Prajapati has claimed that the ‘attack on the occasion of Diwali was pre-planned by the Muslim goons of the locality.’ He claimed that the clash happened a day before Diwali as well, over the celebration to which the Muslim residents had objected. They had even hurled abuse, he said.

As per Prajapati, lights were deliberately turned off before the attack took place, petrol bombs were hurled, and stones were pelted towards Hindus celebrating Diwali. The Gujarat Police investigating the case have also agreed to the same and have said that the lights were switched off before the attack so that the perpetrators could not be identified.

The violence that erupted during Navratri-Garba

While the police are still investigating the matter, the attack during the Diwali celebration is not a lone incident; rather, similar attacks have been reported from other festivals also. Like during the Navratri celebration, there were incidents of people entering the Garba venue with fake ID cards to pelt stones at Hindus.

In Vadodara itself, near the vegetable market in Salvi town, a mob used stones and sharp weapons to attack private vehicles, and shops were also vandalised. In another incident, Hindus had to run for their lives after a Muslim mob started pelting stones at the devotees in Kheda.

Ram Navami and the attack in 5 states

Earlier, during the Ram Navami procession, violence against Hindus was reported from as many as five Indian states. In Madhya Pradesh, as many as 10 houses were set ablaze and more than two dozen people, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Choudhary, were injured. Similar, but more ruthless cases of Islamists attacking Hindus and the Ram Navami procession were reported from states like West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The secularism that is engulfing Hindus

While the entire nation was busy celebrating the joyous festival of Diwali, somewhere in the nation, Hindus were attacked by Islamists. Every now and then, Islamists try to derail the joyous celebrations of Hindu festivals, and this scenario is similar to every teej-tyohar, and Diwali was no different.