The recent riots in the district have created lasting divisions within the community, reflecting a nationwide trend of tensions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda. In Yamuna Vihar and other riot-hit districts in northeast Delhi, many Hindus are boycotting Muslim merchants and refusing to hire workers from the Muslim community. Meanwhile, Muslims are struggling to find jobs due to the economic pressures of the coronavirus pandemic. Yash Dhingra, a shop owner in Yamuna Vihar, has decided to only hire Hindu workers, stating, "I have identified new workers, they are Hindus." The riots in the Indian capital, which were sparked by a citizenship law seen as discriminatory against Muslims, resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people, mostly Muslims, and left over 200 injured. The violence has left a lasting impact on Yamuna Vihar, with destroyed homes and dangerous conditions in the neighborhood. Hindu residents are now boycotting Muslim workers, affecting various professions in the area. Dhingra stated that they have evidence indicating that Muslims initiated the violence and are now shifting blame onto them. This behavior is seen as typical for them as they are viewed as criminal-minded individuals. These sentiments were echoed by 25 Hindus interviewed in northeast Delhi, many of whom experienced significant financial losses or injuries during the riots. Reuters also interviewed around 30 Muslims, the majority of whom claimed that Hindus had stopped cooperating with them. Suman Goel, a 45-year-old housewife who has lived among Muslim neighbors for 23 years, expressed shock over the violence. "It's a strange feeling to no longer feel like you belong, to walk outside your home and purposely avoid smiling at Muslim women," she expressed. "I'm sure they must be feeling the same way, but it's better to keep our distance." Mohammed Taslim, a Muslim who ran a shoe business from a store owned by a Hindu in Bhajanpura, a neighborhood impacted by the riots, shared that his merchandise was destroyed by a Hindu mob. Subsequently, he was forced out and his space was given to a Hindu businessman. Taslim believes this happened solely because of his religion. Many Muslims believe that hardline Hindus were behind the attack in response to protests against the new citizenship law. Adil, a Muslim research assistant in central Delhi, stated that safety is now the top priority for Muslims, overshadowing careers and business opportunities. Adil chose not to reveal his full name due to fears of retaliation. Emboldened by Modi's decisive victory in 2014, extremist groups have pushed forward with a Hindu-first agenda that has marginalized the country's Muslim minority. Vigilantes have targeted and killed Muslims involved in transporting cows, viewed as sacred by Hindus, to slaughterhouses. The government has taken a hardline stance towards Pakistan and revoked semi-autonomous privileges for Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state. In a controversial move, the Supreme Court permitted the construction of a Hindu temple at Ayodhya, where a mosque was destroyed by a right-wing mob in 1992. The Citizenship law, which facilitates citizenship for non-Muslims from neighboring Muslim-majority countries, has sparked widespread protests among Muslims and secular Indians. Modi's office did not reply to Reuters' inquiries regarding the recent violence. In Delhi districts heavily affected by the unrest in February, Hindus and Muslims avoid each other during the day but are separated by barricades at night for safety. Some areas are even constructing permanent barriers. Recently, Tarannum Sheikh, a schoolteacher, observed welders installing a gate at the entrance of a narrow lane leading to the Muslim enclave of Khajuri Khas where she resides. She stated that the goal was to prevent Hindus from entering. She explained that they carry wooden batons to guard the entrance because they believe that trouble could arise at any moment. She also mentioned that they no longer have faith in the police. In the nearby Hindu community of Bhajanpura, residents shared a similar lack of trust and feeling of vulnerability. A 52-year-old grandmother named Santosh Rani expressed that the riots were necessary to bring Hindus together, as they had not realized the presence of such malicious individuals around them for many years. She mentioned that she had to lower her two grandchildren from the first floor of her house to the street below due to the building being set on fire in the violence, reportedly by a Muslim. Rani, who owns multiple factories and retail shops, stated that the Muslims had pushed their limits this time and that they would no longer be given job opportunities. She expressed that she would never be able to forgive them. Hasan Sheikh, a tailor who has been sewing clothes for Hindu and Muslim women for more than 40 years, shared that Hindu customers came to pick up their unstitched clothes after the riots. Sheikh, who is Muslim, found it unusual to see how their relationship had come to an end. The social atmosphere in this region is highly charged, with both sides feeling justified in their hatred. Neither I nor my female clients were to blame.