Nagpur (Maharashtra)

“In my 25 years of political career, this is the first case of religion-based tension in Nagpur,” said former MLA Anis Ahmed on the recent riots in the city. “Muslims here don’t just join Shivaji Jayanti; they warmly welcome Ram Navami too."

Ahmed announced that he and others are working on involving political workers across the parties to come together to form a peace committee to preserve harmony.

Nagpur, a city with the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh (RSS) and the revered dargah of Hazrat Tajuddin Baba visited by people of all faiths, boasts deep-rooted Hindu-Muslim unity.

Despite the recent riot, citizens remain optimistic about peace and harmony prevailing over this brief violent phase.

Citizens remember that their city had never experienced religious unrest before. It remained calm even after the Babri demolition in 1992. Thus, the recent riot left not only Nagpur’s residents but the entire state of Maharashtra in shock.

The morning after mobs vandalized parked cars and shops in an area of the city, the majority of the people acted swiftly to restore peace and the police brought the situation under control within a few hours to prevent the unrest from spreading.

Members of the Federation of Organisations for Social Justice, Secularism, and Democracy

As the riot happened in the holy month of Ramzan, controlling it quickly brought relief to all. People expressed their gratitude to the police. Curfew, imposed as a precautionary measure, has been relaxed in nine out of eleven affected areas.

Though the incident rattled ordinary peace-loving citizens and activists, members of both Hindu and Muslim communities immediately stepped forward to restore harmony and trust in the affected areas.

Despite tension between two groups in the city, the Federation of Organisations for Social Justice, Secularism, and Democracy urged citizens to maintain peace and harmony. This organization runs special initiatives to promote secularism and democratic values in Maharashtra, especially Nagpur.

The city has a history of peaceful coexistence. Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had ordered that the last rites of Afzal Khan whom he had defeated in a war be conducted with full dignity. In light of this heritage, creating unrest over figures like Aurangzeb surely seems misguided.

“On behalf of our federation, we appeal to citizens for peace and remain committed to ensuring it prevails,” said Amitabh Pawade of the organization.

Maharashtra Police enforcing law and order in Nagpur

Federation member Jagjit Singh said, “To ensure social harmony thrives in Nagpur and divisive politics are kept at bay, our federation will take proactive steps. To preserve this city’s spirit of unity, all our members will hoist white flags on their homes and vehicles, and we will encourage citizens to join us in this gesture.”

This was the first such incident in Nagpur since 1967.  “We, on behalf of the federation, call for peace,” said Vijay Barse.

In these tense times, everyone must strive to restore calm. Scholar Yashwant Telang emphasized that every citizen bears the responsibility to speak cautiously during such moments.

“We believe in the path of peace and urge everyone to maintain it,” said Gautam Kamble, a Nagpur-based social activist, speaking on behalf of the federation. He says the Constitution grants equal rights to all citizens, teaching all Indians that they are brothers and sisters. Keeping the nation united is everyone’s duty.

Dr. Anwar Siddiqui, a prominent social worker in the city, said, “Everyone must ensure rumours don’t worsen the situation. If seeds of hatred are sown, they will bear only bitter fruit—this must be remembered. The administration, too, must adopt a fair and just stance in handling this situation.”

Every right-minded person is speaking about Nagpur’s tradition of peace. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, it set an example of social harmony. With board examinations underway, such incidents are unfortunate.

“To preserve Nagpur’s tradition of goodwill and spread positivity, we plan to organize an all-faith prayer meeting and invite the police to participate,” said Dnyaneshwar Rakshak.

“Each of us should work with the Constitution in hand to uphold social harmony, secularism, and democracy. Holding white flags, we will appeal for peace,” said social worker Dr. Trilok Hazare.

“Everyone must exercise patience and uphold harmony. We hope the current tension subsides quickly,” said Dr. Girish Gandhi, president of the Vanrai Foundation in Nagpur.

Prof. Javedpasha Qureshi, a noted Muslim thinker and social worker in Maharashtra, said, “This is the first such incident in Nagpur since the 1960s—it cannot be justified, but it demands introspection.” Reflecting on the Muslim community, he noted, “A major issue is that mobs gather without structured leadership. There’s no plan for what the grievance is, how to address it, or how to engage with police and administration. This turns into an emotional outburst ‘for Islam,’ lacking direction. No one knows who’s present or what they intend, allowing troublemakers to infiltrate.”

He concluded, “Muslim society lacks awareness that grievances can be addressed constitutionally with other communities’ support. Without organizations educating and guiding the community to resist provocation through legal means, such incidents occur, pushing Muslims into greater distress.”

“Preserving brotherhood and aiding the administration for social harmony is every citizen’s duty. No one should take the law into their hands. Let’s foster peace with tolerance,” urged Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, Maharashtra president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, in a statement expressing grief over Nagpur’s violence.

ALSO READ: Zakir Khan, Munawar Faruqui and others who make Indians laugh

He criticized the government’s failure to curb communal incidents, emphasizing fair and transparent efforts to maintain law and order. “Using history as a weapon to spread unrest is deeply concerning,” he added, urging citizens to stay calm, shun provocateurs, and prioritize peace, especially during Ramadan.