Delhi violence: Rallying together, how Hindus, Muslims waged a united battle against hate

Residents armed with sticks and lathis were guarding Yamuna Vihar against outsiders

Policemen watch from a distance as smoke rises from buildings set on fire following violence between two groups in Delhi | AP Representational image

As northeast Delhi was engulfed by communal clashes on Tuesday over the amended citizenship law, several instances of Hindus and Muslims rallying together to fight the forces of division were reported. The residents of Yamuna Vihar were one example. "We have never seen such a communal frenzy in the past 34 years," they told PTI. 

"Hindus and Muslims have been living peacefully in the area since a long time. Such madness is new to the area. This is the reason why we have decided to defeat the communal forces together," Mohammed Sajid, a resident, said.

He said the residents drew away outsiders who had come to the market area of Yamuna Vihar and tried to create disturbance in the region. The locals are taking turns to guard the region against outsiders. "Residents armed with sticks and lathis are guarding the region against outsiders. We are trying hard to prevent such elements from slipping inside the colony and creating ruckus," Rahul, another resident of Yamuna Vihar, told PTI. 

Raisuddin Rehan said only unity can defeat the divisive elements.  "We have come together against such elements which are hellbent on dividing us. People from both the communities are fighting this battle together," he asserted.

Then, there was the reported combined rally by Hindus and Muslims against the violence, taken out at Shastri Park by Brijpuri residents. Numerous visuals of the rally went viral on social media, though THE WEEK could not independently verify its veracity. One video was shared by AAP national media coordinator Vikas Yogi.

Fresh violence over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act wracked northeast Delhi, killing at least eight more people on Tuesday, taking the total number of deaths to 13. Violence cut a swathe through several localities, including Chand Bagh and Bhajanpura, with stones and other missiles hurled and shops set ablaze. 

TAGS