Nero Fiddled as
Rome Burnt. Exactly what happened on the 23rd of February. The next day was when the President of
United States of America, Donald Trump, would touched down on the soil of India in Ahmadabad.
India was basking in the glory of world attention as this was the visit of the
most powerful man on the face of the earth. His first, one and standalone visit
to India, the country he had just put in the category of a ‘developed nation’. An
overwhelming fanfare awaited him in Delhi. But Delhi was simmering, like what
the country had witnessed in 1984 and 2002. Delhi’s worst riots in three decades had
struck and struck hard. Just a couple of days later what it left are frightened
people, burnt-down lanes, abandoned homes, an uneasy calm and an uncertain
future.
Rome Burnt. Exactly what happened on the 23rd of February. The next day was when the President of
United States of America, Donald Trump, would touched down on the soil of India in Ahmadabad.
India was basking in the glory of world attention as this was the visit of the
most powerful man on the face of the earth. His first, one and standalone visit
to India, the country he had just put in the category of a ‘developed nation’. An
overwhelming fanfare awaited him in Delhi. But Delhi was simmering, like what
the country had witnessed in 1984 and 2002. Delhi’s worst riots in three decades had
struck and struck hard. Just a couple of days later what it left are frightened
people, burnt-down lanes, abandoned homes, an uneasy calm and an uncertain
future.
On the night of
February 23, mobs from nowhere descended in the lanes and by lanes of Northeast
Delhi unleashing violence that wasn’t expected nor imagined by the residents. Hundreds
of unruly people carrying, sticks, hammers, fire torches, petrol bombs and other
weapons torched houses, shops were set on fire, vehicles burnt, mayhem reigned
on the streets of Jafarabad, Maujpur, Karawal Nagar, Maujpur Chowk, Babarpur
and Chand Bagh. Mosques were burned, a temple was damaged, and several schools,
shops, houses and vehicles were gutted by rioters running amok. 46 people were
killed, the injured number crossed hundred. The number is increasing by the day
as I write. A mosque in Ashok Nagar and Brijpuri were torched. GTB hospital
where the injured poured ran out of medicines and equipments. It was clearly an orchestrated
attack by people out to plunder, spread
fear and panic amoung the targeted residents of the area that is majorly
muslim dominated. A clash between pro CAA and anti CAA groups at Jafarabad
metro station turned violent to became a communal terminator in no time. Pictures
and videos went viral, everyone posting help messages to police, their friends
and relatives. This riot dance went on unabated for three days with police
forces watching all happen, mutely. Prime Minister and his colleagues were busy
entertaining the guest from the west.
February 23, mobs from nowhere descended in the lanes and by lanes of Northeast
Delhi unleashing violence that wasn’t expected nor imagined by the residents. Hundreds
of unruly people carrying, sticks, hammers, fire torches, petrol bombs and other
weapons torched houses, shops were set on fire, vehicles burnt, mayhem reigned
on the streets of Jafarabad, Maujpur, Karawal Nagar, Maujpur Chowk, Babarpur
and Chand Bagh. Mosques were burned, a temple was damaged, and several schools,
shops, houses and vehicles were gutted by rioters running amok. 46 people were
killed, the injured number crossed hundred. The number is increasing by the day
as I write. A mosque in Ashok Nagar and Brijpuri were torched. GTB hospital
where the injured poured ran out of medicines and equipments. It was clearly an orchestrated
attack by people out to plunder, spread
fear and panic amoung the targeted residents of the area that is majorly
muslim dominated. A clash between pro CAA and anti CAA groups at Jafarabad
metro station turned violent to became a communal terminator in no time. Pictures
and videos went viral, everyone posting help messages to police, their friends
and relatives. This riot dance went on unabated for three days with police
forces watching all happen, mutely. Prime Minister and his colleagues were busy
entertaining the guest from the west.
The immediate
trigger came in the shape of a response to the hate speech by Kapil Mishra, a
BJP leader, to the anti CAA protestors sitting on the street just a day before. Threatening
to remove them forcibly if police did not do it followed the violence that
Delhi had not seen in the last many many years. (Last in 1984). In the backdrop
were the peaceful protest of Shaheen Bagh. A protest that became a sore in the
eye of the BJP government, where women have been squatting for more then 70
days demanding the repeal of CAA that is feared to question their citizenship,
not an incident of violence or ruckus was reported.
trigger came in the shape of a response to the hate speech by Kapil Mishra, a
BJP leader, to the anti CAA protestors sitting on the street just a day before. Threatening
to remove them forcibly if police did not do it followed the violence that
Delhi had not seen in the last many many years. (Last in 1984). In the backdrop
were the peaceful protest of Shaheen Bagh. A protest that became a sore in the
eye of the BJP government, where women have been squatting for more then 70
days demanding the repeal of CAA that is feared to question their citizenship,
not an incident of violence or ruckus was reported.
After 5 days of
Northeast Delhi burning, looting, killing, kidnapping, stone pelting along with
reports of raping women the condition still remains worse. An IB employee Ankit
Sharma’s body was found in a drain which had 800 stab wounds on it. 4 bodies
have been recovered from the drain till now. Women were locked up in their
houses and the building set on fire. Now what prevails in Shivpuri, one of the
worst attacked, is hunger, homelessness, insecurity, fear and pervading hate
between Hindus and muslims who a few days earlier were living like brothers and
sisters. Rumour mills are still thriving. Delhi is fragile with the
possibility of violence spreading in other areas too. Fear is writ large on the
faces of everybody as media channels howl to tell the story of individuals who
have lost not just their kins but their homes and belongings too.
Northeast Delhi burning, looting, killing, kidnapping, stone pelting along with
reports of raping women the condition still remains worse. An IB employee Ankit
Sharma’s body was found in a drain which had 800 stab wounds on it. 4 bodies
have been recovered from the drain till now. Women were locked up in their
houses and the building set on fire. Now what prevails in Shivpuri, one of the
worst attacked, is hunger, homelessness, insecurity, fear and pervading hate
between Hindus and muslims who a few days earlier were living like brothers and
sisters. Rumour mills are still thriving. Delhi is fragile with the
possibility of violence spreading in other areas too. Fear is writ large on the
faces of everybody as media channels howl to tell the story of individuals who
have lost not just their kins but their homes and belongings too.
Surely someone is
to be blamed for the incident of this magnitude in the capital of the country.
The politicians who incite, the police who’s inaction spelled doom and
disaster, the rioters or the protestors!!!! People who were killed or are alive
and suffering were innocent citizens. What was the police doing!. Where did so
much crowd come from! On whose instigation did the riots happen, are all
questions that are waiting for answers. Not a politician caught making hate
speeches was arrested. Not an FIR lodged. Whether JNU or Jamia, no one has been
taken into custody yet. Was the police in cahoots with the politicians like
Kapil Mishra or Manoj Tiwari, who left no stone unturned in spewing fire in the
run up to Delhi elections. Not surprising though, our Prime Minister who’s more active on his social media handles, took 4 days (after the guests had left and the worst was over) to come out with an appeal to maintain peace. Just that. He dutifully stuck to his ”press virginity”.
to be blamed for the incident of this magnitude in the capital of the country.
The politicians who incite, the police who’s inaction spelled doom and
disaster, the rioters or the protestors!!!! People who were killed or are alive
and suffering were innocent citizens. What was the police doing!. Where did so
much crowd come from! On whose instigation did the riots happen, are all
questions that are waiting for answers. Not a politician caught making hate
speeches was arrested. Not an FIR lodged. Whether JNU or Jamia, no one has been
taken into custody yet. Was the police in cahoots with the politicians like
Kapil Mishra or Manoj Tiwari, who left no stone unturned in spewing fire in the
run up to Delhi elections. Not surprising though, our Prime Minister who’s more active on his social media handles, took 4 days (after the guests had left and the worst was over) to come out with an appeal to maintain peace. Just that. He dutifully stuck to his ”press virginity”.
Delhi is too serious
a place to be allowed to be taken over by rioters and law breakers. Is this the
rising India!. Is it this India that takes care of its citizens in the way that
they are seen today- fearful, petrified, frightened, nervous, intimidated and
phobic!!! Messages from across the world poured in expressing concern particularly
as Donald Trump’s visit was being
watched around the globe.
a place to be allowed to be taken over by rioters and law breakers. Is this the
rising India!. Is it this India that takes care of its citizens in the way that
they are seen today- fearful, petrified, frightened, nervous, intimidated and
phobic!!! Messages from across the world poured in expressing concern particularly
as Donald Trump’s visit was being
watched around the globe.
The onus of maintaining
peace and law and order in Delhi squarely rests at the doors of the Union Home
Minister under whom lies the Delhi Police and the Head of the Police
Department, the Commissioner of Police. Some heads surely need to be rolled and
others punished severely to send the right message at the least. The violence
has bruised the psyche of the capital to irreparable damage. The government
that was elected with a brute majority is expected to handle nation breaking
forces with equally brute force in the national capital. Prime Minister Modi
and Home Minister Amit Shah need to take Delhi more determinedly to avoid the
repeat of Gujarat 2002. Let not our secularism
suffocate to death or even be questioned.
peace and law and order in Delhi squarely rests at the doors of the Union Home
Minister under whom lies the Delhi Police and the Head of the Police
Department, the Commissioner of Police. Some heads surely need to be rolled and
others punished severely to send the right message at the least. The violence
has bruised the psyche of the capital to irreparable damage. The government
that was elected with a brute majority is expected to handle nation breaking
forces with equally brute force in the national capital. Prime Minister Modi
and Home Minister Amit Shah need to take Delhi more determinedly to avoid the
repeat of Gujarat 2002. Let not our secularism
suffocate to death or even be questioned.
The positive and
happy part is that in the aftermath, humanity is once again out. Help is
pouring from all corners of the country. Food items, medicines, groceries, clothings,
things of everyday use are being contributed selflessly for the victims and the
suffering ones by individuals, organizations, self help groups and NGO’s. Even
doctors have set up clinics for the injured which is needed the most. Medical
equipments have been donated. On their part the government has converted
shelter homes into rehabilitation camps. Times are testing but we will help the
victims back on their feet. That’s our victory, the victory of good over evil. Tags: #Delhi Riots2020 #Victims of Delhi Riots2020 #Donald Trump #Trumps India visit
#Shaheen Bagh #Delhi Riots2020 politics
happy part is that in the aftermath, humanity is once again out. Help is
pouring from all corners of the country. Food items, medicines, groceries, clothings,
things of everyday use are being contributed selflessly for the victims and the
suffering ones by individuals, organizations, self help groups and NGO’s. Even
doctors have set up clinics for the injured which is needed the most. Medical
equipments have been donated. On their part the government has converted
shelter homes into rehabilitation camps. Times are testing but we will help the
victims back on their feet. That’s our victory, the victory of good over evil. Tags: #Delhi Riots2020 #Victims of Delhi Riots2020 #Donald Trump #Trumps India visit
#Shaheen Bagh #Delhi Riots2020 politics
You can also read it at : http://www.facenfacts.com/EditorialDetails/112/delhi-riots2020:-nero-fiddled-while-rome-burnt.htm
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A very well articulated blog narrating the unfortunate turn of events which unfolded in the national capital on 23rd Feb 2020. The views expressed by the writer are matured, balanced and non-partisan. This unprecedented riot raises many ugly questions on the lack of governance, leadership and people contact by the ruling dispensation.
Thus, there is a crying need for the ruling dispensation to come out clean and transparent in showcasing its intent above board and concurrently, ensuring relief to the victims to allay their fears and bring them back to normal. The culprits responsible for this imbroglio need to be identified and dealt with expeditiously without judicial paralysis irrespective of social/political position he/she may hold.Under all circumstances, the national security remains the foremost concern and needs to be handled with urgency. The divisive forces fueling such barbaric confrontations should be exposed and dealt with iron fist.
Col V P Iyer(Retd)
अमानवीयता के बीच दिखाई दी मानवीयता । अभी हमारे पास बची है संवेदनशीलता । अच्छे लेख पर बधाई प्रीति प्रकाश ।
Nice read
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unfortunate turn in the country's path. We have got imprisoned in religious wars. Progress and humanitarianism has been forgotten. The very essence of formation of a nation, with all faiths as it's limbs, has been threatened. The nation burns and our adversaries watch the flames with glee. We have played into the hands of our enemies. They always wanted our nation divided on religious lines.
Very well said.
Well researched write up …with a balanced approach to the sensitive topic.
While the blog is well written, it is sadly one sided. It ignores the cause of the riots entirely, as much as the logistics that went into the preparation for the riots. Yes there was a massive intelligence failure. Yes the police were unprepared. Yes, the police also were imotenent. But why? Also, is this the first riot in india? Relatively, we have had riot free 6 years.
Every state, incl Delhi has been dragging its feet on police reform. If the police enter campus, they muzzle freedom, if they don't, they are inactive. The SC has also contributed in no small measure by appearing to uphold freedom of dissent of a few vs the freedom of safety or convenience of the larger majority. The recent pronouncements left me surprised…I am sure, the Delhi Police was too.
Firstly, the Shaheen Bagh should never have happened. It did, with active connivance of AAP and others, notably the Congress, Left and mord importantly, PFI an organization that finds support of SIMi and IM. Delhi elections made the removal problematic. The state government should have prevented it. It didn't. The central government should have done so, it didn't. If it did, it would be shown as 'facist ', it didn't its now incapable.
Secondly, pl see the news, the preparation for riots was significant. From rocks to petrol bombs, from inhuman and barbaric murder if the the IB official to the even worse endorsement by some AAP cadres, from use of grafetti to mark out shops or establishments to target to deliberately spreading a specific narrative.
Sadly, I personally find the article well written but not balanced.
Well said…The Rising India and Shining India has so much blood on its hand; we are spiralling down and willingly embracing violence only to ensure the Muslim population of this country doesn't reach a threatening proportion to prosecute us in the near future…leaving in its wake a generation steeped in fear, hate, mistrust and anger. If this this the legacy we wish to create, so be it… Hinduism will be dead even if so-called Hindus survive.
A very meaningful and well written article giving indepth details of the unfortunate incident.
A must read !
Let's unite n fight against the evils of the society on the humanitarian grounds.
Article is well written but person behind riots (like Amanatullah Khan, Manish Sisodia, Sonia Gadhi, Harsh Madar, Tahir Hussain) and have no mention. Shaheen Bagh was not a peaceful protest as they blocked the road and lakhs of people & students facing a lot difficulty ) and the protest was based on rumour about effetc of CAA. Congress , AAP, CPI and wanted riot to happen so it happened.