India’s history, beginning in 1947, is peppered with instances when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates harnessed religious processions to spawn violence. Their modus operandi: They insist on taking processions through Muslim-dominated areas and chant abusive slogans against Islam and its followers. As the police turn into idle bystanders, Muslims take to pelting stones. At times, it has been difficult to ascertain who chucked stones first. In either case, the fire is lit—and people perish.
Several Commissions of Inquiry have retold this story many times.
Science Po’s Survey
The RSS’ use of religious processions to widen the chasm between Hindus and Muslims can be gleaned from the database on Mass Violence and Resistance prepared by the Paris Institute of Political Studies, popularly known as Sciences Po. The Indian section, written by Violette Graff and Juliette Galonnier, has two parts. Part I deals with communal riots that occurred between 1947 and 1986. Part II analyses the riots between 1986 and 2011.
There are myriad factors behind communal riots. From Science Po’s data, I segregated riots sparked by processions purely religious in nature. Purely religious?
— source newsclick.in | Ajaz Ashraf | 13 Apr 2022