The Politics Behind Saharanpur Riots: Engineered for Elections?

Caste and communal clashes have shaken Saharanpur in the run-up to civic polls in the region.

Locals accuse political parties of fuelling caste and communal clashes in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. (Photo: Meghnad Bose/The Quint)

Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh is slated to hold civic body elections later this month. The timing of the repeated clashes in the district – in the weeks running up to the polls – has therefore raised eyebrows.

Though a former BSP stronghold, both the Assembly seats in Saharanpur were scooped up by the SP-Congress alliance in the recent state elections.

Were the Saharanpur riots fuelled by political ambitions? Was the violence and the arson engineered for electoral gains?

Watch The Quint’s Meghnad Bose and Rupinder Kaur discuss the politics behind the Saharanpur communal and caste unrest with veteran journalist Vivek Avasthi.

Also Read: Saharanpur’s Politics of Rioting: Your Maharana Versus My AmbedkarAn Ambedkarite Army Enters the Caste Wars of Uttar Pradesh