Deepening Communal Divide: India Faces Violent Unrest Ahead of G20 Summit

Gurugram and New Delhi (CNN) – India witnessed separate outbreaks of violence this week, shining a harsh spotlight on the nation's deep communal fissures just weeks before it hosts the Group of 20 (G20) summit in the capital. The unrest began in the northern state of Harayana as a right-wing Hindu organization led a religious procession in the Muslim-dominated region of Nuh. The clashes soon spread to the finance and tech hub, Gurugram, where violent mobs targeted Muslim-owned properties, resulting in deaths and destruction.

In Gurugram, six people lost their lives, including two police personnel and a cleric trapped inside a mosque set ablaze during the violence. Authorities reported over 110 arrests in connection with the unrest. The district counselor urged residents to stay home, leading to the closure of some institutions and government offices. Meanwhile, over 1,300 kilometers south in Maharashtra, a tragic incident occurred on a train traveling to Mumbai, where a police officer opened fire, killing four people, including three Muslim passengers.

The officer's actions were caught on video, causing outrage as he seemed to endorse divisive policies of the country's leader and a Hindu monk turned chief minister. As tensions mount, opposition politicians and activists are labeling the incident a "hate crime" targeting India's Muslim minority population. Analysts worry that these violent scenes expose a darker reality beneath the image of a confident and modern superpower that the government wants to portray.

The situation has caught the attention of international researchers, as economist Deepankar Basu's study highlights a significant surge in hate crimes against minorities, particularly Muslims, following the BJP's election victory in 2014. Although the BJP claims to treat all citizens equally, activists argue that recent incidents, such as derogatory statements against Muslims by politicians, contribute to India's sharp communal divide.

Chief Minister Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh, referenced by the police officer involved in the train shooting, is known for his divisive rhetoric and implementation of policies rooted in Hindu nationalism. Critics point to legislation protecting cows and restricting interfaith marriages and conversions as evidence of this trend. With India heading into a fiercely contested election next year, fears are growing that sectarian tensions will escalate further.

India's population of an estimated 170 million Muslims, representing around 15 percent of its total, faces growing apprehension amid this communal unrest. Prominent author and journalist Rana Ayyub emphasizes that the current political rhetoric "emboldens" radical right-wing groups who feel protected and untouchable. As the nation grapples with this surge in violence, the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi approaches, putting the spotlight on India's response to its deepening communal divide.