The recent riots in the district have caused long-lasting divisions within the community, mirroring a national trend of tensions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda. Many Hindus in Yamuna Vihar and other riot-affected areas of northeast Delhi are boycotting Muslim merchants and refusing to hire Muslim workers, while Muslims are struggling to find jobs due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "I have made the decision to not work with Muslims," said Yash Dhingra, a shop owner in Yamuna Vihar, who has chosen to hire Hindu workers instead. The riots in India's capital, sparked by a controversial citizenship law seen as discriminatory towards Muslims, resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people, mostly from the Muslim community, and left over 200 injured. The violence has left the neighborhood of Yamuna Vihar in a state of devastation, with homes destroyed, electricity cables hanging precariously, and tensions high as Hindu residents are now boycotting Muslim workers. This has affected a wide range of professions, from cooks to mechanics to fruit sellers. Dhingra stated that there is evidence indicating that Muslims initiated the violence and are now shifting the blame to Hindus. This sentiment was shared by many Hindus who were interviewed in northeast Delhi, where several suffered significant financial losses or injuries during the riots. Reuters also interviewed around 30 Muslims who claimed that Hindus were no longer willing to work with them. Suman Goel, a 45-year-old housewife who has lived among Muslim neighbors for 23 years, expressed shock at the violence. "It feels odd to no longer feel like you belong, to walk out of your house and consciously avoid smiling at Muslim women," she expressed. "I'm sure they are experiencing the same sentiments, so 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, stated that his stock was destroyed by a Hindu mob. Following this, he was forcibly removed and his space was rented out to a Hindu businessman. Taslim claimed, "This is all happening simply because I am a Muslim." Numerous Muslims suggested that the recent attack was orchestrated by extremist Hindus in response to widespread protests in India against the new citizenship law. One Muslim research assistant in Delhi expressed concern, stating that safety and protecting their lives have become top priorities over career, jobs, and business. The research assistant, named Adil, chose not to reveal his full identity out of fear of potential repercussions. Emboldened by Modi's overwhelming victory in the 2014 elections, hardline groups have been pushing for a Hindu-centric agenda that has marginalized the Muslim minority in India. Vigilantes have targeted and killed Muslims involved in transporting cows, which are considered sacred by Hindus. The government has taken a tough stance towards Pakistan and revoked certain autonomous privileges for Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority state in India. In a controversial decision, the Supreme Court allowed for the construction of a Hindu temple at Ayodhya, where a mosque was demolished by a right-wing mob in 1992. The implementation of the citizenship law, which excludes Muslims from neighboring Muslim-majority countries, has sparked widespread protests among Muslims and secular Indians. Modi's office declined to answer questions from Reuters regarding the recent violence. In the Delhi districts most 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 installing permanent barriers. Tarannum Sheikh, a schoolteacher, observed as two welders erected a high 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 fear someone may cause trouble at any moment. She also mentioned that they no longer have faith in the police. In the nearby Hindu neighborhood of Bhajanpura, residents shared a similar lack of trust and feelings of insecurity. A 52-year-old grandmother named Santosh Rani expressed that the riots were necessary to bring Hindus together, as they had not realized they were living among such malicious individuals for many years. She mentioned that she was compelled to lower her two grandchildren from the first floor of her house to the street below after the building was set on fire during the violence, allegedly by a Muslim. Rani, who owns multiple factories and retail shops, stated that the Muslims have now tested their patience and as a result, they will not be providing them with employment opportunities. She expressed that she will never 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 strange how their relationship came to an end. I am not to blame, and neither are my female clients, but the atmosphere in this region is extremely tense. Both sides have valid reasons for their hatred.