AGENDA

DELIBERATION OVER INCREASING COMMUNAL VIOLENCE WITH

EMPHASIS ON MANIPUR, WEST BENGAL AND HARYANA
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.No. Contents
1 Letter from the Bureau

2 Committee Background

3 Introduction to the Agenda

4 Factors of Communal Violence

5 Impacts of Communal Violence

5.1 Society
5.2 Women
5.3 Children
5.4 Minority Groups

6 Situation in Manipur

7 Situation in West Bengal

8 Situation in Haryana

9 Bibliography

10 Reference Material
 LETTER FROM THE BUREAU

Dear Parliamentarians,
On behalf of the bureau, we extend a warm welcome to all of you and congratulate you for
being a part of the Indore Democratic Summit 2023. Your presence here signifies your
dedication to democracy and diplomacy. We assure you that this experience will be
nothing short of extraordinary.

In contrast to many previous simulations, you may be familiar with, the committees under
consideration place significant importance on political acumen, the analytical
implementation of concepts, and the strategic application of ideas to address impending
politically sensitive civil scenarios.

As you participate in productive conversations and work together to create resolutions,

remember to accept and be receptive to other points of view, too. Without a doubt, your
enthusiastic involvement will help this conference succeed. Please do not hesitate to offer
any preferences, needs, or thoughts you may have on how the committee should operate.
Our goal is to make sure you get the most enriching experience possible.

As you embark on your research journey, we encourage you to seek accurate and reliable
information, equipping yourselves with the necessary knowledge to address the challenges
at hand. Indore Democratic Summit 2023 promises to be a remarkable platform for
academic, social, and cultural growth, and we are thrilled to have you as part of this
vibrant event.
With Best Wishes,
The IDS Bureau Members
 COMMITTEE BACKGROUND
Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is the upper house of the Parliament of
India. It comprises of 245 members, out of which 233 members are elected by the
Legislative Assemblies of States and Union Territories, and 12 members are nominated by
the President of India based on expertise in their various fields such as literature, science,
art, and social service.
The Rajya Sabha operates on the principle of continuous membership, which means that a
third of its members retire every two years which are then filled by new candidates
through new elections and nominations. It is the house which is permanent and thus can
never ever be dissolved. It plays a key role in the process of lawmaking, as it has the
power to review and examine bills that have been passed by the Lok Sabha and approve or
reject important constitutional amendments after such amendments have been passed by
the Lok Sabha with a two-thirds majority.
It also has the power to initiate legislation, except for money bills, which can only be
introduced in the Lok Sabha. It elects the Vice-President of India and also approves
appointment of members of important constitutional offices such as the Chief Election
Commissioner, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and the Attorney General. It can
initiate a motion for impeachment of the President, Vice President, judges of the Supreme
and High Courts, or any other public official and publish reports on different national or
international issues.
 INTRODUCTION TO THE AGENDA:
Communal violence refers to conflicts between members of two or more communities on
the basis of their religious, ethnic or linguistic differences. The Indian Penal Code (IPC)
defines communal violence as any act that promotes enmity between different groups on
grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. It is often triggered by
political, social, economic, or cultural factors leading to serious implications on India’s
democracy, secularism, internal peace and harmony, human rights, national security and
development.
Bill Number CXV of 2005 focuses on communal violence with clauses on prevention,
control and rehabilitation of victims thus it is also called ‘The Communal Violence
(Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005.
In Manipur, clashes between the Meitei and Naga communities have resulted in the loss of
several lives. In West Bengal, violence erupted during the 2021 assembly elections, with
clashes between workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party
In Haryana, tensions continue to simmer between Jats and non-Jats hindering the pathway
of India’s development.
 FACTORS OF COMMUNAL VIOLENCE
Several social, economic, political and cultural factors lead to the rise of communal
violence in India, such as -
1. Political Factors - Political parties, leaders and situations sometimes lead to the
mobilization of communal violence through communal polarization and sensitive topics
for electoral gains. Lack of accountability, inability of the political institutions to resolve
communal conflicts and impunity of perpetrators often give rise to such violence.
2. Social and Cultural Factors - The existence of deep-rooted prejudices, lack of
intercommunal trust, influence of extremist groups and organizations and manipulations of
religious signs and symbols, clash of values and lifestyles, cultural heritage and sacred
sites conflicts, secularism vs religious orthodoxy and in-community discrimination are
some social and cultural factors.
3. Economic Factors - The competition for resources such as land and opportunities
amongst the communal groups, impact of globalization and modernization also leads to
clashes between communities.
4. Media Propaganda - Media propaganda also plays a major role in fueling the violence
and spreading fake or irrelevant news of the same.
 IMPACTS OF COMMUNAL VIOLENCE
Society:
Communal violence not only affects the individual or the victim but also the society as a
whole. Some impacts seen in the society include loss of human lives, destruction of
property, social disintegration, economic setbacks, psychological and physiological
impacts, political instability and internal as well as external security threats and
disharmony.

Women:
Women are one of the most affected victims of communal violence. They are impacted not
only psychologically or economically but may also be victims of harassment and assault.
To add to this, a lot of women face social disintegration and ill-treatment due to loss of
family members. Because of this, women have been extremely prone to gender-based
violence, discrimination and stereotyping, political exclusion, economic disadvantages,
health issues and social expectations.

Children:
Children are also the worst hit by such communal violence. Some of them lose homes,
lose family, lose their societies. Due to this, many children lack education facilities, health
services and basic requirements like food and water. Many children face health issues like
malnutrition etc. and even psychological problems like PTSD. Apart from this, lack of
education worsens the situation for the child and his/her future. Lack of social exposure
also makes the child distant from people and prevents him/her from opening up to new
people.

Minority Groups:
Communal Violence of larger communities also affects the minority groups being directly
or indirectly involved in the same. Discrimination and difference in social standards often
lead to their exposure to trauma, violence, marginalization, economic inequality and social
stigma.
 SITUATION IN MANIPUR
Manipur, a state in Northeast India, has a diverse population consisting of various ethnic
and religious groups. Two major communities in the state are the Meiteis, who are the
majority and occupy the valley region, and the Nagas, who are a minority and live in the
hill areas. The conflict between these two communities has resulted in violent clashes and
riots over the years.
As per a state government report to the Supreme Court in August 2023, over 142 people
have been recorded as dead due to violence in Manipur. Compensation of ₹5 lakh each has
been given by the Centre to the king of 64 deceased persons so far, as per government data
of September 1.
There is special focus on 340 relief camps that currently shelter over 58,000 people.
Nearly 24,000 of those in the camps are said to be Meiteis while nearly 35,000 are Kukis.
The lack of adequate resources and opportunities have also fueled communal tensions, as
different groups compete for resources and political power. Apart from these, issues
related to land disputes, cultural differences, and government policies have also
contributed to communal violence in Manipur.
 SITUATION IN WEST BENGAL
The reasons for communal violence in West Bengal are complex and often linked to
political, economic, and social factors. These include issues related to religious identity,
economic inequality, land disputes, and political power struggles. There have been
instances of communal violence particularly during major festivals and elections. Factors
such as religious polarization, political calculations, economic disparities, demographic
changes, and historical grievances have contributed to the tensions between different
communities. The increasing levels of hate speech, misinformation, and propaganda on
social media and communal organizations have also fueled such violence.
Violence also erupted after the recent assembly elections in the state. West Bengal has
witnessed 65 cases of communal violence in the past 18 months, with 30 cases in 2021
and 35 cases in 2022. Interestingly, some part of the data has not been reported to the
National Crime Records Bureau. Recently in the Howrah District fresh communal
violence erupted on March 30th with the Bhartiya Janata Party and the Trinamool
Congress blaming each other for the same. Bricks and crude bombs were hurled near the
Rishra Railway Station as Train services were disrupted due to fresh communal violence
that broke out at Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district again during the Ram Navami
Celebrations. This poses the need for a better political framework, strong implementation
of policies and judicial justice in the state.
 SITUATION IN HARYANA
Haryana has experienced cases of communal violence primarily due to tensions between
different religious and ethnic groups. The state has a diverse population with a significant
presence of both Hindu and Muslim communities. The main conflict in the state mainly
occurs between these two communities on pressing religious matters. Land Disputes and
Political Power struggle power communal violence in the state.
Recently, communal violence has risen in religious places and processions as a medium to
promote the same by the perpetrators. On August 2, 2023 the Chief Minister of the state
himself stated that 6 people including 2 home guards were killed while 116 had been
arrested and 70 had been injured due to communal violence. Extreme loss of property had
occurred as well as fleeing had taken place. On July 31, local Muslims had pelted stones
on a Hindu Procession between two temples through a Muslim majority area in Nuh-town
in Haryana. The procession had been a yearly thing but due to political tensions, in the
past few years the community has refused to cooperate.
Violence further spread to another region Sohna in the state where a mosque was
vandalized, outnumbering the police forces due to social media fueling the same. The
legislative system needs to be strengthened with strict policy implementation, punishments
as well as police efficiency.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/CommunalViolence.pdf
https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/recurring-communal-viole
nce/print_manually
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/communal-violence-disrupts-train-services-in
-west-bengal-bjp-and-tmc-tradecharges-internet-suspended-and-code-of-criminal-procedur
e-s-section-144-reimposed-101680592021990.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/haryana-communalviolence-live-updates-delhi-p
olice-increases-security-in-sensitive-areas/article67148963.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/making-a-riot-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-com
munal-clashes-in-haryana/article67154320.ece
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-brutal-ethnic-warwomen-are-participants-well
-victims-2023-08-08/
 REFERENCE MATERIAL
Some sites which can be referred are -
https://www.thehindu.com/
https://www.india.gov.in/
https://pib.gov.in/
https://egazette.gov.in
https://legislative.gov.in/

Sites not to be referred to AT ALL -

Wikipedia
Private blogs and News Channels
Tweets
Local Newspapers which aren’t internationally verified