Modi’s anti Muslim policies and impact on Rights of minorities in India
Publishing date: 03 May 2024
After attaining power in 2014, Modi has adopted various legislative and other actions to legalize discrimination against Muslims and these policies were adopted under the umbrella of “Hindu Nationalism”. He has diminished religious, political and economic sphere for minorities particularly Muslims. India is home to 2 hundred million Muslims making it world’s largest Muslim community but a minority in Hindu dominant India. Muslims have been victims of communal violence while facing discrimination in terms of employment, education and have failed to gain wealth and political power. By assessing political history of Modi as butcher of Gujarat and how he did extra-judicial killings of Muslims it can easily be said that he started his political career as a trained terrorist. Modi’s anti Muslim policies are visible from the factor that by mid-2022 BJP had no Muslim member in the parliament.
One of the major policy adopted by Modi to reshape India as Hindu state and marginalize Muslims was Citizenship Amendment Act-2019 which allows fast track of getting Indian citizenship for minorities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs and other religious communities were given access through this act while Muslims on the other hand were totally neglected to be eligible for citizenship. Under this, National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be done through which nearly a million Muslims were left out of Citizenship list in northeast state of Assam. This clearly depicts Modi’s anti Muslim stance in order to achieve broader victory under Hindutva’s ideology (making India Hindu dominant state). Another important anti-Muslim policy adopted by Modi was abrogation of article 370 and 35A of constitution which ended special status in the Jammu & Kashmir region. This policy has resulted as a serious threat to the struggle of freedom for Muslims of J&K. They were previously under the light of UN’s resolution on Kashmir giving them a special status to choose freedom according to their own will. Modi wants to snatch this right and shift Hindus to J&K region changing its landscape and making it part of India forcefully. Modi has also denied residence to persecuted Rohingyas of Myanmar.
After holding office, Modi has implemented various laws including Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act-2015 according to which anybody found in possession of Beef would be jailed up to 5 years in jail. Another act was passed in Haryana known as Gausamvardhan according to which slaughter of cow would end up 10 years in jail. Gujarat Animal Preservation Act was also passed in 2017 increasing fine up to 5 lakhs and according to Minister of state for Home Affairs Pradiph Sin Jadeja the logic was to equal cow slaughter with murder. Karnataka also followed Modi’s anti-Muslim policy and adopted Preservation of Cattle Ordinance -2020 by making cow slaughter punishable by 7 years and fine this time was increased to 10 lacs.
All these acts and policies have had a huge impact upon minority rights in India. Interfaith marriages have also been criminalized by Modi under Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act making it a ban on Muslims to marry inter religiously. According to this act, conversion from Muslim to Hindu for marriage purposes was termed as legal and on the other hand Hindus were made illegal to convert to Muslims and would be dealt heinously if they do so. Another Act was passed under Modi’s rule that was known as Ashant Dharo which banned Hindus from selling lands to Muslims in areas that were denoted as disturbed by state in order to marginalize Muslim community.
The most recent anti-Muslim development by Modi was the start of campaign of 2024’s election from Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which is built on the site of Babri Masjid after it was demolished by Hindu nationalists 31 years ago. This clearly depicts that Modi will continue its anti-Muslim policies and keep impacting minority rights in India. Addressing a rally in western Bengal on 16th of April Modi termed Muslims as “infiltrators” and said if Congress comes into power people with more children (anti-Muslim hate comment) will steal all your wealth. Even the sacred “Mangal Sutra” isn’t safe from Muslims, according to Modi which is a huge racist comment showing his anti-Muslim stance.
Extremist followers of Hindutva led by Modi have made India a hell for Muslims to live and India is termed as worst place on Earth where minority rights are practiced. In order to overcome this situation IGO’s and Media should come forward to condemn atrocities carried out by Modi. It is a dire need for Muslim states to be on a single page and OIC should pass resolution and present condition in from of UNSC which should investigate under UN’s charter. Also SAARC should play part to bring peace and security in South Asian region deteriorated due to cruelty of narrow minded Modi and his ill followers.