May 28, 2015
Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the communal incident at Atali village in Faridabad district of Haryana. The facts and circumstances leading to the incident clearly point out to the dangerous build up of communal polarisation in an area which is part of the National Capital Region. Despite the desperate attempts by the BJP and State Government to trivialise the sinister developments by attributing local factors to explain the violence and terror unleashed against the very small population of Muslims living in the village, it is obvious that this is not an isolated incident. The fact that the issue of a disputed mosque was used as the excuse for communal mobilization proves to be all the more cynical because the Muslim residents had got clearance for building the place of worship from the court. Therefore, this is not just an attack on the Muslim minorities of the village, but on the ‘rule of law’ itself!
A BJP activist who aspires to capture the Sarpanch’s post in the coming local body elections mobilised his supporters from the village and neighbouring areas and incited them to target the Muslims. They attacked the under construction mosque and some houses. The attackers also burnt the belongings, vehicles, and houses of people from the minority community and injured a number of people. A number of families have left the village and have shifted to Ballabhgarh police station in apprehension of further violence.
The role of the police and civil administration was partisan allowing the perpetrators enough time to do the mischief.
This incident is part of a series of attacks on religious minorities in different parts of the state since the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in Mewat and gathered momentum after the BJP-led government’s assumption of power in Haryana. The state government, BJP leaders and the local MLA are trying to force the victims to accept a so called mutually agreed understanding outside the due process of law.
The Polit Bureau demands a transparent enquiry into the matter and stringent action against the culprits. The enquiry should encompass the role of the government agencies and political forces responsible. In the meanwhile, the minorities must be given protection, rehabilitation and adequate compensation. These developments once again expose the hollow claims of the BJP and the Narendra Modi Government that the ‘first year of their office has been one free of communal riots’.