The collusion between the government, communal aggressors, the police and activist of the ruling dispensation, which was all too evident in all the days of the Delhi riots, could well indicate what is in store for the country as a whole.
“Studies on communal riots in independent India have repeatedly highlighted the collusion between the government, the rioting aggressors, the police and the activist of the ruling dispensation of the time. Even so, the record of the current Regime at the centre is exceptional. It is as though the collusion is steroid driven. It is characterised by a sort of unparalleled obviousness in disregarding Democratic and administrative norms and systems as well as in pursuing cunning devices. The case if the Delhi riots in the last week of February is no different.” This was how former senior Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer and renowned Hindi author Vibhuti Narain Rai said in response to the question in the first week of March, even as the Delhi Police claimed that things had returned to normal in the capital region.
Rai went on to add that the obviousness of the collusion and violation of norms during these days was such that the command and control of the Delhi Police was practically shifted the North Block, which houses the Union Home Ministry, marking a grave administrative fault line. “But that was being done without any misgiving.” Rai’s observations are founded in his three and a half decade long service in the IPS, during which he carried out relentless research in the communalisation of politics and administrative services, including the police and other security agencies. This research reflect in his works such as shahar mein curfew(curfew in the city), combating communal conflict, communal conflicts: perception of police neutrality during Hindu-Muslim riots in India.