Holi and the state

Holi and the state

A weekly curation of important stories and analysis by Scroll editors exclusively for our members.

In Uttarakhand, a state in northern India, a law on the protection of minors is being hijacked to prevent love between people of different castes or religions, and Hindu extremist groups take advantage of it to hunt Muslims.

‘Jai Shree Ram’ painted on UP's Sambhal mosque, Holi colours thrown despite tarpaulin cover

Sambhal, 15 February Despite heavy security in the state of Uttar Pradesh, mischievous individuals managed to create communal disharmony targeting mosques amid Holi celebrations. While Jai Shree Ram was painted on a mosque in Sambhal, attempts were made to smear colour on another mosque which was covered with Tarpaulin to ensure the sanctity of the religious structure. These incidents surface despite claims of peaceful Holi processions in the st…

Hindu extremists attack mosque with battering ram IAMC

In Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu supremacist mob celebrating Holi swarmed a mosque and blasted anti-Muslim songs outside. The lyrics referenced Hindu extremist campaigns to demolish historic mosques in the cities of Kashi and Mathura: “Ayodhya (site of the now-demolished Babri Masjid) has been decorated, Kashi has been decorated; God bless us, we will decorate Mathura too.” Meanwhile, in Sambhal, Hindu extremists spray-painted “Jai Shri Ram” o…