Cuttack riot: 'Calculated political move' for dismantling secular society, culture

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* 

Communal harmony and brotherhood between Hindus, Muslims, and other religious communities have long defined the synchronised secular culture of Cuttack, a historic city in Odisha. From Dargah Bazar and Pir Hat to Idgah Maidan, generations have witnessed the making of independent Odisha and India through shared spaces and collective struggles. 

People from all religious walks of life contributed to shaping this secular culture during and before the anti-colonial movements. These places stand as living testaments to secularism and communal harmony in both the city and the state. Across Odisha, from the Rath Jatra (Car Festival) of Lord Jagannath in Puri to Durga, Kali, Ganesh, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Mangala Pujas in towns and villages, one sees the active participation of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other religious minorities as if these festivals were their own. Muslims often help organise Hindu religious events, and Hindus reciprocate by supporting Muslim celebrations.

This organic religious bond has historically defined Odisha’s multicultural and secular ethos — now under threat due to the political patronage of religious conflict by Hindutva forces. Since the rise of Hindutva politics, Odisha has witnessed a disturbing increase in riots that fracture the social and religious harmony among communities. 

The Cuttack riot was not an accident; it was a well-organised event that reflects the core of Hindutva politics, which is fundamentally incompatible with the secular and multi-religious traditions of the state. Cow vigilantes attack Muslims, Christians face assaults, and even nuns have been pulled from trains and harassed. Such incidents are becoming more frequent, raising serious questions about the BJP government’s capacity — or willingness — to maintain law and order. Is this negligence, or a deliberate strategy to normalise Hindutva violence and instil fear as a mode of governance?

The BJP-led state government has failed even to protect its own police officers from Hindutva rioters. When rioters run the state, riots become a routine form of governance. The BJP in Odisha continues to offer indirect or direct political patronage to religious conflicts across the state. From the murder of Graham Staines to the riots in Bhadrak and now Cuttack, Hindutva groups have orchestrated and led these violent episodes. 

Violence is not incidental to Hindutva politics — it is integral. Its ideology of hate manufactures communal unrest, creating fear and instability while normalising religious conflict. These strategies not only erode the multicultural and secular fabric of Cuttack and Odisha but also undermine India’s constitutional democracy.

The BJP rose to power in Odisha under the banner of Odia Asmita (Odia dignity), yet it has betrayed that very dignity by dismantling the culture of coexistence that defines Odia identity. Cuttack exemplifies the fraternal bonds between religious communities, where neighbours celebrate each other’s festivals and traditions. The classical Odia language, its rich history, and inclusive culture bind people together in a framework of fraternity. Hindutva rioters threaten not only lives but also the values of peaceful coexistence that have long sustained Odisha’s social fabric.

The Cuttack riot is not a deviation caused by a few rogue elements; it is a calculated political strategy aimed at dismantling secular society and culture. It is a wake-up call to the people of Odisha and India to recognise the long-term dangers of Hindutva politics and its fascist tendencies. We must not allow rioters to dictate the course of our nation or accept a culture of violence as a legitimate form of politics. 

The Hindutva-led riot in Cuttack is a warning: either we end Hindutva politics, or we risk living under a regime where fear governs daily life and citizenship rights are eroded. Such undemocratic and anti-constitutional politics — whether pursued by Hindutva or any other group — must be defeated to preserve the secular culture of coexistence rooted in religious fraternity and democratic values.

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*Academic based in UK