NEW DELHI, Jan. 9 -- In the past in Gujarat, Hindu-Muslim riots have taken place in towns in Adivasi areas, without involving the Adivasis, as for example in places like Virpur, Bardoli, Sanjeli, Randikpur, Modasa, Khedbrahma, Lunawada, and Meghraj. But communal riots in Gujarat involving Adivasis directly is a phenomenon that started in 1990. In 1997, the Christians in Dangs district were subjected to atrocities and burning of churches by outsiders provoking the local non-Christian tribals. This continued in the post-Godhra riots of 2002 against the Muslim traders in tribal dominated towns of Panchmahal and Vadodara districts by the Hindutva elements provoking the tribals against the Muslims.

Later, in Kandhamal in Odisha, post-Swami L...