Five years have passed since the 2020 Delhi riots, yet justice remains out of reach—both for the victims’ families and for those who remain imprisoned without a fair trial.
The violence which erupted in Northeast Delhi between February 23 and 27, following months of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), claimed 53 lives. What began as clashes between pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups quickly escalated into communal violence, resulting in the deaths of 53 people—38 of them Muslim and 15 Hindu. Over 200 others were injured.
The riots left a trail of destruction in Muslim-majority areas of the Trans-Yamuna region, with homes, shops, and places of worship set ablaze. While victims’ families still wait for justice, several activists and political prisoners who opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act remain jailed without a fair trial. Labeled ‘anti-national’ by the government, they face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly inciting violence, which makes bail nearly impossible.
Since Narendra Modi took office in 2014, the terms ‘national’ and ‘anti-national’ have become central to political discourse. Just six months into his government, ‘anti-national’ emerged as a powerful slur, frequently used by BJP leaders and supporters to shape a rigid nationalist narrative. The binary label has since been weaponised to silence critics, discredit dissent, and marginalise opposition voices. In 바카라's latest issue on binaries, the magazine explores how these terms have increasingly defined political rhetoric—where expressing dissent or questioning the government automatically places one in the ‘anti-national’ category, leaving no space for nuance or debate.
As legal proceedings related to the riots continue, several names, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Shifa Ur Rahman, Gulfisha Fatima, Athar Khan, Shadab Ahmad, Meeran Haider, Salim Munna, Salim Khan, Tahir Hussain, and Tasleem Ahmed, remain behind bars. They claim their constitutional right to a fair trial has been denied. While they await justice, so too do the countless families whose lives were torn apart by the violence.
The 2020 Delhi riots were among the deadliest communal clashes in recent history, leaving behind a trail of destruction that scarred residents for life. As Prime Minister Modi hosted then-U.S. President Donald Trump in India, the situation in Jafrabad-Maujpur spiralled into chaos. The violence was alleged to have been triggered by a speech from BJP leader Kapil Mishra on February 23, in which he warned the police to clear anti-CAA protest sites in Jafrabad and Chand Bagh. What followed was days of brutal violence, with homes set ablaze, lives lost, and communities torn apart.
바카라 magazine covered the riots extensively in its issue titled Inside Delhi Riots, shedding light on the aftermath—what was left behind, who was responsible, and who ultimately benefited from the violence.
Reporter Salik Ahmad, in his piece A Walk Through Scarred Lanes Of Delhi In The Aftermath Of A Riot, documented the ground reality as violence unfolded. The article mentioned, Hindu groups attacked the anti-CAA protest site in Jafrabad, triggering violence, and leading to deadly clashes, while the police were seen siding with them instead of controlling the riots. As the chaos spread, homes, mosques, and shrines were set ablaze, families fled, and the streets were left covered in debris. The article said that those who had seen images of violence in sepia were now witnessing the inhuman cruelty in colour images and videos.
An article by Jeevan Prakash Sharma highlighted how, amid the communal riots in Northeast Delhi, Muslim neighbors in Babu Nagar protected Savitri, a Hindu widow, and her family. Despite initial fears as violence spread, she found reassurance when her neighbors promised to keep her safe, showing solidarity in a time of deep division.
An article by Bhavna Vij Aurora questioned the absence of political leaders as Delhi burned. The article criticised the failure of the police and the government, it asked why the Home Minister did not act decisively, the Prime Minister took three days to appeal for peace, and why the Delhi High Court had to intervene to question why no FIRs were filed against leaders who gave incendiary speeches.
Another report raised more questions, with BJP leader Kapil Mishra at the centre of it. Witnesses claimed his speech on February 23 escalated tensions, leading to masked, armed rioters rampaging through localities. While AAP leaders blamed Mishra for inciting violence, BJP leaders defended him, denying any role in the riots.
