On April 17, two news channels – Aaj Tak and ABP News – as well as Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran reported that “criminal elements”, mostly “Bangladeshi or Rohingya Muslims”, could be “conspirators” in the violence. Their sources were mainly local Hindus or from the police, though Delhi police commissioner Rakesh Asthana later categorically denied that the police was conducting a probe on this.
Right-wing groups, including the BJP, as well as political parties such as AAP have claimed “Bangladeshis” and "Rohingya" had been behind the violence; the BJP’s Kapil Mishra went so far as to say these “Bangladeshi infiltrators” should be “identified and their homes should be bulldozed”.
And bulldozers did arrive in Jahangirpuri this morning, purportedly to demolish “illegal constructions of rioters”.
So, as many residents said to this reporter on April 18: “What is the use of talking to the media? You are not going to show our side.” A young boy even shoved the mic, mumbling “Godi media” and “bika hua media” – sold-out media.
With news reports suggesting the Delhi police might be using facial recognition software to aid in arrests, the men avoided speaking on camera, while some women agreed only if they could shield their faces or stay anonymous. “Show our side,” a woman said, her hands folded.
“We are Indians, we have purchased land here, got degrees here,” said a Muslim woman who lives in C Block. “How come we are Bangladeshis?”
Another woman chipped in, “We also have videos from tha day on our mobile phones. Media personnel are taking those videos from us but not using them.”
This includes videos of participants in the Hanuman Jayanti procession allegedly wielding swords, sticks and, in one case, a “gun”. Why then, as one woman said, were Muslims solely being blamed?
“The incident is being labelled as a conspiracy by Muslims,” she said, on the condition of anonymity. “Do they really think we teach our children to do this? Media should have shown versions of both sides.”
Afsana’s neighbour, Pakeezah, also hit back at the “Bangladeshi” claims. She showed this reporter her Aadhaar card which had her address as “Block-C Jahangirpuri”.
“I’m from Haldia in West Bengal. My parents and grandparents used to live in Nandigram,” said Pakeezah. “My in-laws are from Bihar and my daughter got married into a family in Aligarh. Does that make us Bangladeshis?”
Pakeezah said she had been present that day when the procession went past the Kali Mata temple near the mosque in Jahangirpuri. “When prasad is distributed, we even take it,” she said. “There has never been any Hindu-Muslim issue in this area.”