Why Tripura, Why Now? Recent Anti-Muslim Violence Has a Political Context – By Rahul Mukherji
Bangladesh has been in the news in India for a variety of reasons…. The Durga Puja violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has been the most recent. But it is important to note that attacks on Puja pandals in Bangladesh are not a new phenomenon, this happens with disturbing consistency. What was different this year was how it spread from Comilla to different corners of the country.
To their credit, the Bangladesh government led by Sheikh Hasina was able to demonstrate alacrity in dealing with the violence and the perpetrators. What was also different was the coverage these incidents received in India. The response of the Indian government was guarded.
The right wing Hindutva brigade restricted its outrage and provocations within the contours of the virtual world…. This was the situation till 19 October. Then a series of attacks began in Tripura in which multiple mosques and establishments linked to the Muslim community were vandalised. Reports were slow to come in. By the time the rest of India woke up to these incidents, these attacks had spread to most of Northern Tripura. The pattern of the attacks did give an impression of being planned. But why Tripura of all places? And why now?…
