As many as 650 communal incidents have taken place in the country so far in 2015, which is higher than entire 2014 when 644 incidents were reported.
As many as 650 communal incidents have taken place in the country so far in 2015, which is higher than entire 2014 when 644 incidents were reported.
However in 2013, when the UPA government was in power, the Union home ministry has told Parliament that 823 communal incidents had taken place in the country.
Incidentally, this peak in communal incidents in 2013 also came at a time when the Lok Sabha elections were just round the corner. In 2012, the number of communal incidents stood at 668.
This year, Uttar Pradesh once again gains notoriety as it has topped the list of states reporting the highest (139) communal incidents in the country so far.
Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra (97), Madhya Pradesh (86), Karnataka (79), Bihar (59), and Gujarat (47) where the number of communal incidents this year is high.
The home ministry, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, has categorically said that “public order and police are state subjects as per the provisions of the Constitution.
The responsibilities of maintaining law and order, including communal violence, rest primarily with the respective state governments”, it has said.
However, the MHA added that to maintain communal harmony in the country, the Centre assists the states by sharing advisories, sending alert messages and providing assistance of the Central paramilitary forces to deal with communal situations.
The home ministry further said detailed guidelines had been circulated laying down standard operating procedures to deal with situations arising out of communal violence which are time and again reiterated.
In 2014, 2013 and 2012, Uttar Pradesh has been topping the states in communal violence incidents. Such incidents were 133 in 2014, 247 in 2013 and 118 in 2012.
Incidentally, last year, Uttar Pradesh was followed by Maharashtra (97) and then Gujarat reporting 74 incidents, making it the third highest state so far as communal incidents are concerned.
