According to the 1991 census the Coimbatore city had a population of 1.1 million. Until 1997, Tamil Nadu was seen as a communal haven and communal violence was seen as a North Indian phenomenon. In Kerala the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were attempting to get a hold, the Hindu Munnani and Muslim fundamentalist organisation Al-ummah were spreading their wings in Tamil Nadu. The activities of the Hindu Munnani, the Hindu Makkal Katchi, and the RSS escalated but went unchallenged during the Jayalalitha government. Al-Umma and the Jihad Committee emerged as fundamentalist responses to this. The Hindutva organisations had been engaged in a concerted effort to spread Hindu nationalism as a political mobilization tactic for a decade before the violence. The Hindu Munnani and other Sangh Parivar groups have tried to gain political influence by increasing violence on Tamil Nadu's minority communities in Coimbatore and other southern districts. The Muslim fundamentalist organisations were also accused of receiving assistance from foreign forces detrimental to the unity of the country. After the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992, Islamic outfits strengthened their ranks. The Hindu Munnani urged Hindus not to shop in Muslim-owned business, Muslim businesses felt intimidated. The Hindu Munnani formed associations of Hindu traders. Reportedly, there were stabbings and counter-stabbings between the youth of Hindu Munnani and Al-Ummah. This communally polarized the city. The Hindu Munnani and Al-Umma grew, feeding on each other's mischief. The city's environment was communalized as a result of the Sangh Parivar's communal propaganda and the Muslim fundamentalist reaction, this damaged the city's history of class-based campaigns and liberal heritage.