By: Shivasundar [*Shivasundar is a columnist and activist in Karnataka.]* Published in:* The Wire* Date: December 9, 2025 Source: https://thewire.in/communalism/reviving-nellie-revisiting-old-wounds-the-bjps-hindutva-play-ahead-of-assam-polls *Note*: Please access the source (above) to read the whole article.
"In terms of the number of casualties, the scale of brutality, and the intensity of communal hatred, the 1983 Nellie massacre exceeds the Gujarat violence, the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, and several other instances of mass violence. This renewed interest, however, is not motivated by remorse regarding the massacre. In the discourse promoted by Sarma [Himanta Biswa, the radical Hindutva ideologue], there is no concern for the Bangla Muslim victims, nor any criticism of the Hindu communal tendencies within one stream of the Assam Movement that created the conditions of violence. Such positions are not possible, since the BJP – facing an uncertain electoral outcome – has adopted a more overtly violent and hate-driven Hindutva politics putting even Adityanath’s politics to shame. For those unfamiliar with Assam’s political history, including younger generations, the Gujarat violence is far more widely remembered, while Nellie is not. In fact, in terms of the number of casualties, the scale of brutality, and the intensity of communal hatred, the 1983 Nellie massacre exceeds the Gujarat violence, the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, and several other instances of mass violence. Hence understanding Nelli makes the BJP’s contemporary political intentions more comprehensible and also the role of Congress in furthering it."
