Violence erupted in Nagpur over calls by far-right groups for the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's mosque, a decision rooted in his contentious legacy. Residents, such as Datta Shirke and Aslam, express fear amid rising sectarian tensions and police arrests, particularly targeting Muslims ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit. The calls for demolition and the group Vishwa Hindu Parishad's protests have sparked interreligious riots, reflecting the persistent divisions within Indian society over historical perceptions of power and governance.
Datta Shirke has not left his home for the past two days and fears for the safety of his family. Vehicles parked in the lane where he lives have been torched in Hindu-Muslim sectarian clashes.
The police have imposed a curfew and more than 50 people - mostly Muslims - have been arrested in raids in advance of a planned March 30 visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nagpur.
Last week, a BJP parliamentarian from Maharashtra raised a call for the excavation of the Mughal emperor's grave. Nearly 100 volunteers associated with the far-right group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a protest in Nagpur.
That grave is a black spot in our homeland, said Amit Bajpai, a spokesperson for the VHP, who was also one of the demonstrators demanding demolition.
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