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3. Elements of Communalism

Communalism or communal ideology consists of three basic elements or stages- one following the other:

Mild: It is the belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests i.e. common political, social and cultural interests.

Moderate: In a multi-religious society like India, the secular interests of followers of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the followers of another religion

Extreme: Interests of different religious communities are seen to be mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile.