The Gujarat riots have brought about an unexpected if temporary -alliance between the upper caste champions of Hindutva and the tribals and Dalits who languish at the bottom of traditional Hindu social hierarchy At several places, Dalits eagerly joined Hindu fanatics to kill and loot Muslims.
Dalits of nearby shanty clusters led the attacks on Muslim homes and shops in Ahmedabad's Gulbarg Society (where Congress ex-MP Ehsan Jaffrey was burnt alive), Behrampura, Dani Limda and Gomtipur areas.
The co-option of groups expected to be naturally antagonistic to Hindutva was brought about, at least in part, through money and alcohol.
In the most common instance, VHP and Bajrang Dal members began the carnage in urban upper and middle class Muslim clusters, and then invited the poor Dalits to share the booty.
However, the entente was not always based on the lure of lucre.
Over the years, the Sangh Parivar has gradually worked its way into new constituencies of Dalit and tribal Gujaratis. In several urban clusters, Dalits have hold ornamental positions in local Bajrang Dal and VHP units, bringing upward social mobility to the whole communities.
In many areas, Hindutva forces have cashed in on poverty Inroads have been made over years into Dalit constituencies hit by textile mill layoffs. Through meticulous campaigns, Muslims have been identified as the 'other' who have taken away Dalit jobs; and frustration has been channelised into hatred against the community In Sabarkantha, the VHP front Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad has distributed food and fodder to tribals during two years of drought, earning a lot of goodwill.
Yet, the anti-Muslim alliance between
Dalits and tribals and the champions of Hindutva is not a pan-Gujarat phenomenon.
In areas where Sangh Parivar outfits are weak, the OBC, Thakores and Dalits
provided safe passage to Muslims.