The recent riots in Yamuna Vihar have created long-lasting divisions within the community, mirroring a larger trend of 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. Muslims are struggling to find employment due to the economic pressures of the coronavirus pandemic. Yash Dhingra, a shop owner in Yamuna Vihar, has decided to only hire Hindu workers, citing the violent clashes that occurred in the area during the riots last month. The riots in the Indian capital, the most severe sectarian violence in decades, were sparked by a citizenship law that critics believe discriminates against the Muslim minority in India. According to police records, at least 53 people, the majority of whom were Muslims, were killed and over 200 were injured. Dhingra noted that the violence has had a lasting impact on Yamuna Vihar, with many homes destroyed and dangerous conditions remaining in the neighborhood. Hindu residents are now avoiding Muslim workers, impacting various professions such as cooks, cleaners, mechanics, and fruit sellers. "We have evidence to demonstrate that Muslims initiated the violence, and now they are pointing fingers at us," Dhingra claimed. "This is their typical behavior as they have criminal tendencies." These sentiments were widely echoed in conversations with 25 Hindus in eight neighborhoods in northeast Delhi, many of whom experienced significant financial losses or physical harm during the riots. Reuters also interviewed around 30 Muslims, the majority of whom reported that Hindus had chosen to no longer cooperate with them. Suman Goel, a 45-year-old homemaker who has been living among Muslim neighbors for 23 years, expressed that the violence had left her feeling stunned. "It feels odd to no longer feel a sense of belonging, to leave your house and not exchange smiles with Muslim women," she expressed. "I imagine they are experiencing similar feelings, but it is better to keep a distance." Mohammed Taslim, a Muslim who ran a shoe business from a shop owned by a Hindu in Bhajanpura, a neighborhood impacted by the riots, shared that his stock was ruined by a Hindu mob. He was subsequently forced out and his space was given to a Hindu businessman, he explained. Taslim stated, "This is happening solely because I am Muslim." Numerous Muslims believed that the attack was provoked by extremist Hindus in response to widespread protests in India against the new citizenship law. A Muslim research assistant in central Delhi named Adil expressed that safety and protecting their lives have become the top priority for the community, overshadowing concerns about careers, jobs, and businesses. He 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 pushed for a Hindu-centric agenda that has marginalized the Muslim community in India. Vigilantes have targeted and killed Muslims involved in cow transportation, a sacred animal for Hindus. The government has taken a hardline stance towards Pakistan and revoked certain privileges for Jammu and Kashmir. The Supreme Court's decision in November allowed for the construction of a Hindu temple at Ayodhya, where a mosque was destroyed by a mob in 1992. The controversial citizenship law, which facilitates citizenship for non-Muslims from neighboring Muslim-majority countries, has led to widespread protests by 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 installing permanent barriers. Tarannum Sheikh, a schoolteacher residing in the Muslim enclave of Khajuri Khas, observed welders putting up a high gate at the entrance of her narrow lane one 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 anyone could come into the alley to cause trouble. She also mentioned that they no longer have faith in the police. In the neighboring Hindu area 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 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 because her 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 pushed their limits this time and as a result, she will never hire them again. She also 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 ended. I and my female clients were not to blame, but the social atmosphere in this region is highly charged. Both sides have valid reasons for feeling hatred.