Members of both Hindu and Muslim communities Sunday marched together with the Indian flag in their hands to spread the message of peace and communal harmony in the violence-hit working-class neighbourhood of Jahangirpuri in the northeast of Delhi. Local media reports said the atmosphere of the area was completely different from what it was throughout the week when communal clashes and demolition drives by bulldozers had taken over the lives of the residents of the mixed neighbourhood where homes,  commercial establishments and vending stalls and carts stood cheek by jowl.

Around 500 people participated in the march which wound through the narrow lanes of the area where tensions ran high in the last few days. Hundreds of personnel of the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force were deployed to ensure no "untoward incident" happens during the peace procession, authorities said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Usha Rangani said the march began in the evening and covered a stretch of 3.5 km.

While flowers were showered on the marchers by residents from balconies, the marchers waved the national flag throughout, chanting slogans ofpeace, harmony and religious brotherhood between Hindus, Muslims and Sikh residents, 

According to Musharraf Sheikh who had come along with his friend Gagan for the march, the event was organised to bring back peace in Jahangirpuri after a week full of chaos and tension.

“Whatever happened should not have happened and we hope for a better future with our Hindu friends. We have always lived with peace and harmony and this march will bring it back,” he added. Rita, a woman who showered flowers on the march, said the relationship between Hindus and Muslims have always been cordial in the area.

“I have been living here for the last 30 years. Our Muslim neighbours haven’t done anything wrong. When nothing untoward happened to me then why should I defame them,” Rita was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 

Sheikh Abu said the peace march will make people realise what we have lost. “The enemies of the social harmony will not like it as want the people to remain divided.” Rajesh Mishra who took part in the march along with his friend Mohammed Abid said their friendship would not be ruined by any clash or "anti-social elements".

A Muslim resident, who did not wish to be named, said that there will be no enmity and both the communities will live alongside each other just like they have in all these years. “We are like brothers here and we will stay here like a family as we have lived in the last 40 years,” he said.

Businessman Rakesh Mehra, said the march was “a first step towards peace” and that those who carried out the violence “were outsiders”. 

“One of my friends was also injured in the clashes but I want to forget what happened on that day and spread the message of peace”, Mehra told The Hindu.

(SAM)