Past prelude

• Riots in India are often orchestrated by vested interests, not spontaneous social tensions.
• The violence in Nagpur, which left dozens injured, is not solely due to rumour-mongering or impulsive reactions.
• Right-wing parties in Maharashtra have been using the legacy of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as a political talking point.
• This recurring subject raises suspicions that these controversies are being manufactured to distract from pressing livelihood issues.
• The recent Assembly election campaign used Aurangzeb as a campaign issue, casting Muslims as inheritors of a long-dead ruler’s legacy.
• The riots in Nagpur, a city with significant political and historical importance, are an indictment of the ruling establishment, which claims to represent all communities.
• The recent box office success of Chhaava, a film depicting the historical conflict, has fuelled communal discourse.
• To regain Maharashtra’s status as a leader in comprehensive development, the government must shift focus from divisive narratives to real socio-economic challenges.