A group of persons claiming to be supporters of DMK leader M K Azhagiri today allegedly set fire to the office of Tamil daily 'Dinakaran' and indulged in protests resenting a survey published by the newspaper on the possible "political heir" of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Survey on "Makkal Manasu" (What People Think), published in the daily today had given 70 per cent chances to M K Stalin, the second son of Karunanidhi and just 2 per cent to elder son Azhagiri, who controlled the party cadres in Southern districts.
Riots is nothing new, and is not unique to India. Following are some facts about riots.
Riots occur when crowds or even small groups of people gather to commit acts of violence and property damage, usually in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. Historically, riots have occurred due to poor working or living conditions, government oppression, taxation or conscription, conflicts between races or religions (see race riot and pogrom), or even the outcome of a sporting event. Some claim that rioters are motivated by a rejection of or frustration with legal channels through which to air their grievances.
Types of Riot: Race riot, police riot, prison riot, student riot, hooliganism, street fighting.
Political parties find it easy to whip up mob fury and destroy public property to express dissent, rather than explore civil and legitimate forms of protest.Political parties, rather than stem the tide, have sought to exploit the situation by pitting one community against another.Politics has been reduced to a cynical exercise of managing identities at the risk of compromising the collective well-being of society.
It is time political parties and civil society realise that a people succeed only when they stand together and negotiate their differences peacefully.
