India faces growing religious intolerance, violence

India’s secular identity is increasingly under threat as the Hindutva ideology continues to spread, resulting in rising discrimination and violence against minority communities, particularly Muslims, Christians and Dalits.

The current political climate, under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has seen a surge in policies that target these groups on religious grounds, sparking concerns both within India and internationally.

Since the BJP came to power in 2014, the party’s policies, heavily influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have been criticized for fostering an environment where religious minorities face discrimination, harassment, and violence.

This aggressive approach has emboldened religious extremists, leading to a sharp increase in attacks on minorities, raising alarms about the growing climate of intolerance.

While India vocally protests against minor incidents involving Hindus worldwide, the country’s internal issues regarding violence against minorities seem to go largely unaddressed.