Question

State and briefly explain any two kinds of Political Violence in India since independence.

Answer 1

1. Communal Violence: Communal violence involves clashes between different religious communities and often results in riots, loss of life, and destruction of property. Significant instances include the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the violence following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, and the 2002 Gujarat riots. Such incidents have seriously affected India’s secular character and internal unity.
2. Naxalite-Maoist Insurgency: This type of violence arises from socio-economic disparities and land-related problems. It originated in Naxalbari, West Bengal, in 1967 and later spread to states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The movement is marked by armed resistance against the state with the objective of dismantling the democratic system and establishing a revolutionary communist order.