Concerned citizens of twin cities condemn communal vandalism

“Even as we were thinking that Hyderabad has left communal violence behind with no riots since 2012, we find ourselves getting engulfed in intense communalisation. The past two months have seen four incidences in the city”, they stated.

Hyderabad: Concerned citizens of the twin cities condemn communal vandalism to instigate violence and demand strict action.

A statement endorsed by several prominent citizens said, “even as we were thinking that Hyderabad has left communal violence behind with no riots since 2012, we find ourselves getting engulfed in intense communalisation. The past two months have seen four incidences in Rakshapuram, Nampally, Muthayalamma Temple, and Yakutpura”.

---

All these incidents that quickly become flash points, thanks to social media, seem to be deliberate instigations by individuals to vitiate the atmosphere in large parts of the city.

Condemning the deliberate acts of vandalism and hate mongering, the citizens in the statement demand the government to take strict and exemplary action against anyone indulging in vandalism or hate mongering to instigate communal disturbances.

It sought the government not allow mobs to take law into their own hands, establish Fast Track Courts to prosecute and punish the guilty in a time bound manner and police immediately apprehend and arrest the accused, showing no bias or favour, and arrange for immediate prosecution of all the guilty.

The statement said all political parties must unequivocally condemn all such acts of communal hatred and violence members of the public, especially youth, should act in a responsible manner and should not blame or act against entire communities for the actions of one or few deranged individuals or groups driven by hate.

Those who endorsed the statement included Prof. Shanta Sinha, Prof Rama Melkote, Prof. Padmaja Shaw, Dr. Mazher Hussain, COVA, Sandhya V. POW, Sajaya K, Prof. T. Vijay Kumar, Prof Ayesha Faruqui, M. A. Shakeel, Sarah Mathew, Prof. Jani Basha, Tashi Choedup, and others.