Grappling with the politics of division, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Special Action Force (SAF) will be deployed in Mandya district, Karnataka, to address rising communal tensions.
• The SAF, formed in June 2025, is already active in communally sensitive coastal districts and Shivamogga.
• Mandya, historically insulated from communal politics, has witnessed a surge in communal incidents in recent years.
• Political analysts attribute the rise in religious intolerance to the BJP's electoral alliance with the JD(S).

Detailed Insights:

• The SAF is tasked with maintaining communal peace by cracking down on those fomenting religious hatred and monitoring social media.
• Mandya, dominated by Vokkaligas, traditionally leaned towards progressive movements, but has seen increased communal tensions.
• Communal incidents include tensions during the Hanuma Jayanti procession in Srirangapatna and clashes during religious processions.
• The BJP-JD(S) alliance has altered political dynamics, with JD(S) cadres now aligned with BJP's Hindutva politics.
• The Congress hopes the SAF deployment will restore stability amidst challenges from communalisation and the BJP-JD(S) alliance.
• The future of the JD(S) remains uncertain due to its alliance with the BJP in the Vokkaliga heartland.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Communal Harmony: Peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among different religious communities.
• Religious Polarization: The divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes based on religious identity.
• Hindutva: An ideology seeking to define Indian culture in terms of Hindu values.