Prashant Bhushan Warns Congress of Its Vulnerability to Communal Politics Amid Himachal Flare-ups

Sectarian tensions in Himachal Pradesh highlight that the Congress party is not immune to communal politics, according to senior advocate Prashant Bhushan. The state has witnessed Hindu-Muslim clashes for over a month, primarily due to disputes over a mosque in Sanjauli near Shimla. Some groups are demanding its demolition, which has led to unrest spreading across the region.

Communal Politics and Congress

Bhushan noted that the incident's spread indicates the influence of Hindutva organisations, which have been able to mobilise people effectively. He remarked that even Congress has members who engage in communal politics for electoral gains, despite lacking a communal ideology. Bhushan described this trend as dangerous and urged Rahul Gandhi to expel such individuals from the party.

The Congress party often refrains from acting against these leaders due to short-term political benefits, Bhushan added. He warned that this approach is ultimately counterproductive. "You can't play this game better than the BJP; you will not gain anything out of it," he stated.

Migration and Demographics

Tikender Singh Panwar, former deputy mayor of Shimla and CPIM leader, explained that the current demographic composition of Himachal Pradesh is a result of decades of migration. Many towns and cities, especially those established during British rule, were built by bringing people from distant places. In Shimla, Kashmiri Muslims were historically brought in as labourers.

Panwar emphasised that migration forms the foundation of every mountain city. He also pointed out that attempts to disrupt the state's social harmony have increased recently. Despite Muslims constituting only about two per cent of the population, communal polarisation remains a possibility.

Legal Disputes and Protests

Panwar criticised the discourse around legal or illegal constructions in cities as meaningless. Shimla alone has over 25,000 illegal buildings, including at least 20 temples on government or forest land. A report titled "Creating the Muslim Outsider: Hate Speech, Migrant Vulnerability and Faltering Law & Order in Himachal Pradesh" highlighted violent protests against Muslims spreading across the state.

The report criticised Congress leaders for failing to address rising tensions, which increased fear among Muslims. Protests escalated into clashes with police and vandalism in Mandi, Palampur, Sanjauli, Kullu, and Solan.

Incidents and Reactions

Activist Nadeem Khan recounted his experience as part of a fact-finding team. He mentioned that BJP leader Kamal Gautam circulated their photographs, accusing them of being terrorists. Khan expressed concern over their vulnerability and noted that no action had been taken on their police complaint.

Journalist Srishti Jaswar reported that state police admitted they had never encountered such communal polarisation before. The tensions intensified after an altercation between a Muslim barber and a Hindu businessman in Malyana on August 30 turned communal.

Hindu groups are demanding the demolition of allegedly unauthorised mosques, while residents call for identifying outsiders entering the state. The situation underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining communal harmony in Himachal Pradesh.