The recent riots in the district have created lasting divisions in the community, mirroring a national trend of tensions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda. In areas like Yamuna Vihar, where the riots took place, many Hindus are boycotting Muslim merchants and workers, while Muslims are struggling to find jobs due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. One shop owner, Yash Dhingra, stated that he has chosen to only hire Hindu workers and will not work with Muslims. The riots in the Indian capital, which were the most severe sectarian violence in decades, were sparked by a citizenship law that critics believe discriminates against the Muslim minority in India. At least 53 people, the majority of whom were Muslims, were killed and over 200 were injured according to police reports. Yamuna Vihar has been permanently altered by the unrest, with homes destroyed, electricity cables damaged, and streets littered with debris from the riots. Hindu residents in the area have started boycotting Muslim workers, impacting a wide range of professions from cooks to mechanics. "We have evidence to prove that Muslims initiated the violence, and are now trying to blame us," Dhingra stated. "This is a common pattern for them as they are people with criminal intentions." These sentiments were widely supported in interviews with 25 Hindus in various areas of northeast Delhi, many of whom experienced significant financial losses or physical injuries during the riots. Reuters also interviewed around 30 Muslims, the majority of whom claimed that Hindus had refused to work with them. Suman Goel, a 45-year-old homemaker who has been living among Muslim neighbors for 23 years, expressed her shock at the violence. "It feels odd to no longer feel like you belong, to leave your home and consciously avoid interacting with Muslim women," she expressed. "I'm sure they are experiencing similar emotions, 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 stock was ruined by a Hindu group. He was subsequently forced out and his shop was given to a Hindu entrepreneur, he recounted. "This discrimination is happening solely because of my religious beliefs," Taslim stated. Numerous Muslims believe that the recent attack was orchestrated by extremist Hindus in response to widespread protests in India against the new citizenship law. Adil, a Muslim research assistant in central Delhi, expressed that safety and protecting lives have become more important than careers, jobs, and business for them. Adil chose not to reveal his full name due to concerns about potential retaliation. Inspired by Modi's overwhelming electoral victory in 2014, extremist groups have been pushing for a pro-Hindu agenda that has negatively impacted the Muslim community in India. There have been incidents of vigilantes attacking and killing Muslims who were transporting cows, which are considered sacred by Hindus. The government has taken a tough stance towards Pakistan and revoked certain 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 the site of a mosque that was destroyed by a right-wing mob in 1992, a move supported by the Modi administration. The citizenship law, which makes it easier for non-Muslims from neighboring Muslim-majority countries to gain Indian citizenship, has further angered Muslims and secular Indians, leading to widespread protests. 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. However, at night when the risk of violence is higher, they are separated by barricades that are taken down in the morning. Some areas are now constructing permanent barriers. Tarannum Sheikh, a schoolteacher residing in the Muslim enclave of Khajuri Khas, observed two welders installing a tall gate at the entrance of her narrow lane on a recent evening. She stated that the goal was to prevent Hindus from entering. She explained that they carry wooden batons to safeguard the entrance because they believe that someone could 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 feeling of vulnerability. A 52-year-old grandmother named Santosh Rani remarked that the riots were necessary to bring Hindus together, as they had not realized they were surrounded by malicious individuals for many years. She mentioned that she had 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, which was reportedly done by a Muslim. Rani, who owns various factories and retail shops, stated that the Muslims have pushed their limits this time, and as a result, she will no longer hire them for jobs. "I will never forget what they did." Hasan Sheikh, a tailor who has been sewing clothes for Hindu and Muslim women for more than 40 years, mentioned that Hindu customers came to pick up their unfinished clothes after the riots. Sheikh, who is Muslim, expressed his surprise at how their relationship ended. "I and my female clients were not responsible, but the social atmosphere in this region is highly charged. There is justified animosity on both sides."