According to Delhi police tweet on Sunday, 14 persons were arrested in connection with communal vilonece between Hindus and Muslims during a Hindu holy parade in New Delhi.
Six police officers and numerous people were hurt on Saturday following scuffles that erupted during a parade during a festival in Jahangirpuri, a New Delhi suburb.
“Remaining rioters are being identified for strict legal punishment,” claimed the police.
Religious conflicts have erupted in recent weeks in numerous parts of the country during religious processions between the majority Hindu and minority Muslim groups.
The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has emboldened hardline Hindu religious groups in recent years to take up causes that they claim preserve their faith, despite the fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a Hindu nationalist party has denied any rise in communal tensions during Modi’s reign.
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a member of Modi’s government, stated in an interview published on Sunday that religious intolerance was not rising, while downplaying recent occurrences.
“Fringe elements, unable to comprehend the country’s peace and prosperity, try to malign India’s inclusive culture and dedication,” he told The Economic Times.
After university students in New Delhi recently battled on campus over the serving of non-vegetarian food in the canteen during a week that Hindus deem auspicious, he said that it was not the government’s role to dictate dietary customs to the people.
“Every citizen in the country has the freedom to eat whatever food they choose,” Naqvi remarked.
He also dismissed concerns raised earlier this month over Muslim kids wearing the hijab head-scarf to school in Karnataka, India’s southernmost state and home to the country’s tech-sector capital Bengaluru.
“There is no ban on wearing a hijab in India.” “One can wear a hijab in markets and other public areas,” he explained.
“However, every college or institution has a dress code, as well as rules about discipline and etiquette.” This is something we will have to accept. If you don’t like it, you can transfer to another university.”