The recent riots in Yamuna Vihar have caused lasting divisions in the community, mirroring a national trend of escalating tensions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist agenda. Many Hindus in the area, as well as other riot-affected districts in northeast Delhi, are boycotting Muslim merchants and workers. Meanwhile, Muslims are struggling to find employment amidst the economic pressures of the coronavirus pandemic. Yash Dhingra, a shop owner in Yamuna Vihar, has made the decision to only hire Hindu workers, citing the violent clashes that occurred in the area during the riots on Feb 23. The riots in the Indian capital, the worst sectarian violence in decades, were sparked by a citizenship law last year that critics argue discriminates against India's Muslim minority. Police reports indicate that at least 53 people, primarily Muslims, were killed and over 200 were injured. Dhingra noted that Yamuna Vihar has been permanently altered by the unrest, with homes destroyed and dangerous conditions in the streets. Hindu residents in the area are now shunning Muslim workers, impacting a variety of professions from cooks to mechanics. Dhingra stated that there is evidence indicating that Muslims initiated the violence and are now trying to shift the blame onto them. He described Muslims as being criminal-minded. These sentiments were commonly expressed in interviews with 25 Hindus in northeast Delhi who experienced financial losses or injuries during the riots. Reuters also interviewed around 30 Muslims, the majority of whom claimed that Hindus were refusing to collaborate with them. Suman Goel, a 45-year-old resident who has lived alongside 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 home and consciously avoid smiling at Muslim women," she expressed. "I'm sure they feel the same way, but it's safer 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 ruined by a Hindu group. Subsequently, he was forced out and his shop was rented to a Hindu entrepreneur, Taslim claimed. "This is happening simply because of my religion," 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, stated that safety and self-preservation have become the primary concerns for the community, overshadowing career and business aspirations. Adil chose not to reveal his full name due to concerns about potential retaliation. Emboldened by Modi's overwhelming electoral victory in 2014, extremist groups have been pushing for a Hindu-centric agenda that has marginalized the Muslim community in India. Vigilantes have targeted and killed Muslims involved in transporting cows, which are considered sacred by Hindus, to slaughterhouses. The government has taken a hardline approach towards Pakistan and revoked semi-autonomous privileges for Jammu and Kashmir, the country's only Muslim-majority state. The Supreme Court's decision to allow the construction of a Hindu temple at Ayodhya, where a mosque was demolished by a right-wing mob in 1992, was supported by the Modi government. The controversial citizenship law, which makes it easier for non-Muslims from neighboring Muslim-majority countries to become citizens of India, has caused widespread protests among Muslims and secular Indians. Modi's office did not provide a response to Reuters' inquiries 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 constructing permanent barriers. Schoolteacher Tarannum Sheikh observed welders installing a gate at the entrance of a narrow lane leading to the Muslim enclave of Khajuri Khas one evening. She stated that the goal was to prevent Hindus from entering. She explained that they carry wooden batons to guard the entrance, as anyone could come into the alley to cause trouble at any moment. She 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 feelings of insecurity. A 52-year-old grandmother named Santosh Rani expressed that the riots were necessary to bring Hindus together, revealing that they had been unaware of the presence of such malicious intentions surrounding them for many years. She stated that she had to lower her two grandchildren from the first floor of her home to the street following the burning of the building in the violence, reportedly by a Muslim. Rani, who owns multiple factories and retail stores, declared that the Muslims had pushed their limits this time and vowed to never employ them again. She expressed that she would never forgive them. Hasan Sheikh, a tailor with 40 years of experience in sewing clothes for Hindu and Muslim women, mentioned that Hindu customers came to pick up their clothes after the riots. Sheikh, who is Muslim, found it strange how their relationship had abruptly ended. "I did not do anything wrong, and neither did my female clients, but the atmosphere in this region is highly charged. Both sides have valid reasons for their hatred."