The election of the BJP government at the Centre in 2014 with an absolute majority acted as a shot in the arms of a section of Hindu nationalist organ isations. They were now flush with financial resources on one hand, and felt assured of state patronage and protection on the other. Their “religious” pro cessions were motivated more to demonstrate their prowess than by spiritual or religious reasons. Hindu nationalists took out their own processions, or joined traditional ones wherever they could take over the same and assert their prowess. In the process, it became the norm that such processions routinely deviated from the agreed or permitted routes in order to pass through Muslim-dominated areas. They openly carried arms, played loud and deafening DJs near mosques for longer time to include Muslim prayer time, and shouted slogans insulting Muslims. While doing this, they were fully prepared to respond violently to any objection. During the years 2022 and 2023, the Ram Navmi processions in several towns across India resulted in communal violence. These riots also targeted impartial police officers and managed to force them to fall in line or face punitive actions like transfer to less important posts. These riots saffronised the secular state.
