Caravan News

NEW DELHI: In the last four years, from 2014 to 2017, some 2,920 communal incidents took place in the country and at least 389 people were killed. This fact is in sharp contrast with the claim of a Union Minister of the BJP-led NDA government that there have been “no big communal riots” in India over the past four years.

BJP came to power in the centre in May 2014 and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of the country.

This past Monday (2nd July), Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, had said that there have been no big communal riots in the country in the last four years. But his claim runs contrary to the government data about the communal incidents in the last four years.

According to FactChecker.in, as many as 2,920 communal incidents were reported in the country over four years ending 2017, in which 389 people were killed and 8,890 injured. This figure was given in the Union Home Ministry’s reply to the Lok Sabha on February 6, 2018 and February 7, 2017.

Three “major” communal incidents were reported in (Baduria-Basirhat district North 24 Parganas, West Bengal) in 2017, (Hazinagar, West Bengal) in 2016 and (Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh) in 2014.

A “major” communal incident is one that results in more than five deaths or leaves over 10 people injured. An incident that results in one death or 10 injured is termed as “important or significant”.

Communal Incidents in India 2014-2017 Year Incidents Persons Killed Persons Injured 2014 644 95 1,921 2015 751 97 2,264 2016 703 86 2,321 2017 822 111 2,384 Total 2,920 389 8890

Source: Lok Sabha, February 6, 2018; February 7, 2017.

As per the government data, Uttar Pradesh reported the most incidents (645) over the last four years, followed by Karnataka (379), and Maharashtra (316).

UP also reported the most deaths in these communal incidents (121) between 2014 and 2017, followed by Rajasthan (36) and Karnataka (35).