Narendra Modi, who has never hidden his bigotry against the Muslims has transcended to new levels of intolerance. His reputation as the “Butcher of Gujarat” precedes him, and under his leadership, the climate of intolerance has only deepened. However, Modi’s tenure has not only turned a blind eye to Islamophobia; instead, it has propagated and encouraged it.
Since Modi’s rise to power in 2014, the atmosphere for Muslims in India has deteriorated sharply. A heinous attack on a 72-year-old Muslim man on a train in Maharashtra in August 2024 is a real-life example of increasing intolerance in terms of violence and discrimination. These are not random or sporadic attacks but are in fact systematic to further the agenda of targeting Muslims and establishing dominance of Hindus.
This campaign of hate has Modi’s fingerprints written all over it and is not very hidden either. On August 29, 2024, BJP candidate Gajay Singh Rana made some disgusting remarks in Doda, Jammu where he depicted the rivalry between Hindus and Muslims as a war and Muslims as aggressors. Such rhetoric has significantly exacerbated communal tensions, reflecting the growing acceptance of Islamophobia in India.
The outcomes of this ascending intolerance are devastating for Muslim communities across the country. They face discrimination in nearly every aspect of life, from employment and education to access to basic services. Many Muslims now conceal their religious identity out of fright, as demonstrated by recent events where police brutality and mob violence against Muslims have gone unchecked.
The most heinous aspect of this campaign is the systematic demolition of Muslim homes and mosques. In August 2024, in Madhya Pradesh, the house of a renowned Muslim leader was razed by authorities following protests against a Hindu extremist’s hate speech. Such demolitions, shamelessly justified under the pretext of imposing building regulations, disproportionately target Muslim communities, leaving many displaced and further igniting communal tensions.
Analysts and experts are raising red flags cautioning that the unconstrained growth of anti-Muslim sentiment under Modi’s leadership might result in more severe violence and social division. The global community, including the UN, needs to step in to stop further human rights violations and make those responsible—Modi included—answer for this widespread hatred.
Under Modi’s divisive rule, the country is plunging into deeper turmoil marked by rising hate and violence. The international community need to step in and do something about Modi’s destructive agenda to stop further erosion of human rights and societal cohesion. Urgent and robust action is critical to counter this escalating danger and to safeguard the global principles of democracy and human dignity.
