Backstage talks kept Ram Navami passions in check

Kolkata: The city witnessed peaceful and harmonious Ram Navami celebrations on Sunday despite charged political rhetoric in the run-up to the festival. This was largely due to a multi-pronged approach by the govt involving community outreach, coordination, and security bandobast.
Days before the festival, the govt initiated back-channel talks with members of the two communities, held coordination meetings, and involved local religious figures to "build an atmosphere of trust and safety", and ensured people practised restraints in the face of any provocations. Cops and local politicians held micro-meetings across several Muslim-majority neighbourhoods in the city, interacting with local residents. In many cases, officers of multiple police stations were present in the meetings in areas with overlapping procession routes.

"The message was to remain calm, stay vigilant, and do not respond to provocation," said Imtiaz Alam, minority cell secretary in Ward 44, who was present in one such meeting. In areas like Watgunge, Ekbalpore, Metiabruz, Garden Reach, and Mominpore, cops held coordination meetings with members of both the communities. On Friday evening, there was a meeting of local leaders, imams of several mosques and cops in the Topsia, Tiljala and Tangra areas. Senior community members were urged to act as peace ambassadors and ensure that the youth did not fall prey to any kind of provocation. They were told that letting the festival pass off peacefully was in "everyone's benefit".
Security was strengthened across the rally routes, and "sensitive routes" were watched closely. In many places in Kidderpore, Garden Reach, Metiabruz, and along BT Road, drones were used to monitor large crowds.
Cops threw a security ring around places of worship on many rally routes as a confidence-building measure. Many processions were barred from taking roads along prominent places of worship. For example, a Ram Navami procession on Rabindra Sarani was diverted via Canning Street, despite some members requesting the cops to let them take Rabindra Sarani to reach MG Road. Security was beefed up around Nakhoda Mosque on Rabindra Sarani, and guard rails were placed to prevent any rally from taking that route.
What made this year special was the way ordinary people helped one another. In Ekbalpore, members of the Khawaja Gareeb Nawaz Welfare Society handed out water, soft drinks, and snacks to those in the Ram Navami rallies. "We have always celebrated all festivals together and stood by each other in times of difficulty," said Munawwar Ali, president.