Inda-(Special Correspondent): Since Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, India has witnessed a disturbing escalation in efforts to marginalize its Muslim population. Under the pretext of anti-encroachment drives, the government has launched a series of demolitions targeting mosques and Islamic shrines across the country. However, these actions reveal a deeper, more troubling narrative—one of state-sponsored discrimination aimed at weakening the presence and influence of India’s Muslim minority.
The systematic destruction of religious sites is not just an effort to reclaim land; it forms part of a broader agenda aimed at erasing Islamic history and undermining the social and political presence of Muslims. Critics argue that this strategy reflects the BJP’s commitment to a Hindu nationalist ideology, which prioritizes Hindu supremacy and pushes religious minorities, particularly Muslims, into the margins of society. The result is a nation where Muslims increasingly find their religious freedom under siege, their heritage threatened, and their basic human rights compromised.
Since 2014, violence against Muslims has surged dramatically, taking on various brutal forms, including mob lynchings and attacks on places of worship. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented a consistent rise in aggression, often with the government showing little willingness—or ability—to intervene. What makes matters worse is the inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders, which has incited further hatred, fostering an increasingly hostile environment for Muslims.
In addition to physical violence, legislative measures have compounded the sense of alienation and exclusion among Muslims. Laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are widely seen as discriminatory, leading many to believe that the government is actively working to strip Muslims of their citizenship. Together with the destruction of Islamic religious sites, these legal measures appear to be part of a concerted effort not only to erase Muslim identity but to exclude Muslims from the fabric of Indian society altogether.
Despite several court orders aimed at halting the demolitions, the judiciary has often been unable to enforce its decisions. Some rulings are delayed, while others are blatantly ignored, which reinforces the perception that the government is acting with impunity. The failure to protect Islamic religious structures is not just a violation of property rights; it represents a direct attack on the religious freedoms guaranteed by India’s constitution as a secular democracy.
The international community has also begun to take notice of the deteriorating state of religious freedom in India. Recently, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) designated India as a country of concern, citing the growing repression of religious minorities under Modi’s leadership. This international condemnation highlights the extent to which India’s current trajectory is in conflict with its democratic ideals and secular constitution.
In conclusion, the surge in actions aimed at marginalizing Muslims in India, from the demolition of religious sites to the passage of discriminatory laws, reflects a troubling shift toward Hindu nationalism under the BJP government. These efforts, combined with the state’s failure to intervene in rising violence against Muslims, signal a dangerous erosion of religious freedom and human rights. While international scrutiny may help shed light on these issues, the future of India’s democracy and its commitment to secularism remain under serious threat.
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