Yet these statements are made openly, often with police present, signalling that communal violence in the name of gender protection is tolerated. Each state reveals a distinct pattern of hate mobilisation, shaped by its own history, politics, and social structure. It arises organically from the affective environment created by sustained hate mobilisation. India’s long-standing policy of keeping arms out of civilian political mobilisation begins to erode, replaced by a permissive environment for private militias. This order is parallel to the constitutional state, majoritarian in ethos, and vigilante in practice.

Source: The Hindu January 08, 2026 08:27 UTC