THE COMMUNAL RIOTS BILL

The last few weeks saw high voltage drama surrounding the controversial women’s quota bill. Though the bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha, it still has to pass the acid test in the Lok Sabha. But there is one other bill that is bound to create a huge debate if not less when it is introduced in the parliament. The much delayed bill which should have become a legislation much earlier- the ‘communal riots’ bill.

One of the basic foundations of the strong Indian republic has been its emphasis on secularism. But a country that is home to more than half a dozen religions of this world

has been battered by bloody communal riots after periodic intervals. Communal riots have been part of Indian history for centuries but even independent India has seen thousands of lives lost in communal riots between communities. Among the many the more impactful ones include the hindu-muslim riots post partition in 1947, hindu-sikh riots in 1984 post Indira Gandhi’s assassination, hindu-muslim riots in 1992-93 post the Babri mosque demolition, the Gujarat riots of 2002 & the Orissa riots in 2008-09.

Right wing groups like the RSS, Bajrang dal have described the latest move as a ‘minority appeasement’ policy of the Congress. But human right groups && NGOs are blaming the bill’s current content as anti- minority. The current bill does not hold the police machinery or politicians accountable for the riots between two communities. It is this contentious issue against which human right groups are voicing their concerns. The current bill could become a weapon in the hands of the state machinery to use it against the minorities.

They have a valid point as the bill does not hold the police & people in power accountable. The Ehsan Jaffri case during the 2002 Gujarat riots is a good example to illustrate this point. According to Jaffri’s widow they made innumerable telephone calls to the city police commissioner when a huge mob started gathering outside Jaffri’s house. But the police refused to help them. Eventually Jaffri and dozens were pulled out from the house and hacked to death. Similarly, the sexual crimes committed against the victims is also been treated as ‘rape’. It is imperative to realize that sexual violence is a lethal weapon used by rioters to terrorize the victims.

It is vital for the bill to hold the state administration, police & above all the state government accountable for the riots. It has been proved in all the riot cases that section of the police and the state government encourage rioting between communities. Technically they are bigger culprits as compared to the actual rioters. The bill should be brought in for public debates so that changes can be made intune with the ground reality.

This bill is not only crucial to preserve riot victims but also highly critical to keep the secular fabric of India intact. If the government does not make the necessary changes as voiced by various groups then the bill would be complete eyewash. And the likes of Tytlers, Sajjans & Modis would continue to haunt & rape the secular credentials of this nation for years to come.