Communal tension has gripped a popular market in India’s national capital city following a scuffle between a small group of people over a parking issue that happened over the weekend.
According to police, tension arose between two groups from different communities after an altercation ensued over a parking issue on Sunday night (30 June). Efforts have been made to pacify people and restore normalcy.
After some altercation &scuffle over a parking issue in Hauz Qazi, tension arose b/w two groups of people from different communities.We have taken legal action & all efforts are being made to pacify feelings &bring about amity. People are requested to help in restoring normalcy.
— DCP Central Delhi (@DCPCentralDelhi) July 1, 2019
There has been widespread condemnation of the incident, with the Member of Parliament from the area and Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan appealing to people to remain calm. He cautioned them against rumours being circulated to stoke tensions on social media by some unscrupulous elements.
चांदनी चौक के लाल कुंआ इलाके में हुई घटना निंदनीय है। दिल्ली पुलिस पूरी स्थिति पर कड़ी नज़र रख रही है और उसकी पहली प्राथमिकता दोषियों को पकड़ना है। सामाजिक समरसता खराब करने की किसी को इजाजत नहीं दी जा सकती।घटना के दोषियों को बख्शा नहीं जाएगा। @AmitShah @DelhiPolice @BJP4Delhi
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) July 1, 2019
Dr Vardhan visited the temple and expressed his anguish over the vandalisation of the temple. Another parliamentarian Parvesh Sahib Singh also condemned the incident and requested the police book the culprits.
आज सुबह चांदनी चौक के लाल कुंआ स्थित प्राचीन दुर्गा मंदिर के दर्शन किये।मंदिर में देवी-देवताओं की प्रतिमाओं से हुई तोड़फोड़ से मन व्यथित हुआ है।मैंने स्थानीय लोगों से बात कर मामले की पूरी जानकारी ली और उन्हें आश्वस्त किया कि दोषियों को बख्शा नहीं जाएगा। @BJP4Delhi @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/5ghD20Nn7J
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) July 2, 2019
Outraged & condemn attack unfolded at 100yr old temple in Chandni Chowk. Perpetrators will be brought to justice.
— Parvesh Sahib Singh (@p_sahibsingh) July 2, 2019
असहिष्णुता का इससे बड़ा उदाहरण नहीं हो सकता।
Noticing the deafening silence of pseudo secularists.#ChandniChowk
Visited by thousands of people every day, including a huge number of foreigners, Chandni Chowk, also known as the Walled City, is the oldest settlement in the national capital. It has narrow lanes and bylanes. It also has a concentration of trading establishments especially related to textiles, books, hosiery and wedding cards, considered to be one of the biggest in the country. The place has various ancient temple as well as mosques, particularly 17th century mosque Jama Masjid. The area has not witnessed communal violence in decades despite the large presence of Hindus and Muslims.
Netizens have angrily reacted to what they alleged was the Delhi Police's inaction against the culprits.
This is preposterous and enraging @ArvindKejriwal
— Anirudh Singh (@AnirudhS3955) July 2, 2019
Is this how secularism works in Capital of India and in the famous #ChandniChowk
The culprits must be caught and put under intense legal punishment.
We all await the proceedings of Delhi Police and Govt.#TempleTerrorAttack
Dear @narendramodi @amitshah @BJP4India - kindly don't take our vote for granted.
If we have to see the temples being vandalised, how is congress govt any different.
— Mayank (@maypan18) July 2, 2019
Dont test our patience. You have 303 MPs onboard. Walk the talk now. Enough is enough #ChandniChowk
Chandni Chowk, Delhi:
— Chinmay Singh (@mrchinmaysingh) July 1, 2019
Hundreds of locals barge into temple.
Break idols.
Set fire.
Pelt stones.
Shouted "Nara-e-taqbeer, Allah-hu-Akbar" while vandalizing the temple.
No media coverage yet.
I wonder why. 🤔#TempleTerrorAttack #ChandniChowk pic.twitter.com/onKGiBgRlx
There has been a slight increase in the number of communal violence incidents in India over the last few years, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. A reply given in response to a Right to Information Application revealed, 822 incidents of communal riots in the country were reported in 2017, 111 people killed, while in 2016, it was 703 and 86, respectively.
