Persecution of Minorities in India

By Sajjad Shaukat

India has broken all the records of violence, genocide and massacre perpetrated on various ethnic 

and religious groups entailing the community of its own lower castes. As part of persecution of 

minorities, these atrocities and injustices still continue in one way or the other.

Although apparently, India claims to be the largest democracy, acting upon the principles of 

liberalism and secularism, yet in practice, all political, economic and social fields of the country 

are divided on the caste lines. 

In this regard, Tim Sullivan of the Associated Press wrote, “There’s a lot of lip service to saying 

‘I’m an Indian first, and ‘I’ do not believe in caste,” said D’Souza, a prominent campaigner for 

Dalits, as India’s “untouchables” at the very bottom of the caste system are now known.” 

Sullivan elaborated, “When it comes to sharing power, to interaction and to sharing social status, 

low-caste Indians are very much marginalized.”

It is notable that historical background and religious beliefs which have formed the habits and 

national character of Hindus are quite different from the other ethnic and religious communities. 

Indians still have a strong belief in the superiority of their race. Indian Hindus are followers of 

Chanakya (Say some thing else and do some thing else). These facts have been verified by the 

misdeeds of Hindu fundamentalist parties like the BJP, RSS, VHP, Shiv Sina and Bajrang Dal 

which have missed no opportunity to communalize national politics of India. 

In fact, India is a vocal advocate of secularism but nowhere else in the world secularism was so 

blatantly betrayed. In this context, Moulana Azad had said, “I firmly hold that communal frenzy 

will disappear when India assumes the responsibility of her own destiny.” Quite contrarily, in so-

called secular India, Azad’s hope was completely belied, as Hindu fanaticism is continuously 

gaining momentum and strength.

It is surprising that theoretically, Indian Constitution safeguards the rights of minorities, but in 

practice, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails. Hindu majority led by the BJP has 

shown complete disregard to it, and commit excesses and cruelties against Muslims, Sikhs, 

Christians and Dalits with impunity. 

Hindu politics and culture, dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, VHP, Shiv 

Sena and RSS including other extremist outfits have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative 

utterances of their extremist leaders have resulted into unending violence especially against the 

Muslims and Christians.

It is mentionable that Hinduvta agenda enabled BJP hardliner, Narendra Modi to get a land 

sliding triumph in the Indian elections 2014, who has become the prime minister. In this respect, 

RSS driven anti-Muslim move of the BJP including other Hindu fanatic parties could be judged 

from various recent developments. On May 28, 2014, Rashtriya Hindu Andolan, a Mangalore-

based Hindutva outfit and activists from various right wing groups organized a protest in 

Mangalore in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner by demanding the authorities to ban 

the morning Muslim call to prayer (Azan) across the country. Besides forcing the Muslim 

employee in a Parliament Canteen by BJP leader to break his fast by stuffing piece of bread in 

his mouth, statement of Deputy Chief of Goa, declaring India as a Hindu state might be cited as 

It is noteworthy that in 1992, a large crowd of Hindu Karsevaks (volunteers) in accordance with 

a preplanned scheme of the Indian high officials entirely demolished the 16th-century Babri 

Masjid (mosque) to reclaim the land known as RAM Janmabhoomi–birthplace of the god. The 

destruction of the Babri Masjid sparked Muslim outrage around the country, provoking several 

months of inter-communal rioting between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the death of 

at least 2,000 people, majority of whom were Muslims.

On September 13, 2008, the communal riots in Uttar Pradesh killed more than 200 Muslims. In 

one of the most tragic incidents in Assam, Hindu extremists burnt alive six members of a Muslim 

Similarly, in the recent years, assaults on Christians, their churches and property have been 

executed by the Hindu mobs in various cities of India. In this connection, at least 100 Christians 

have been assassinated by Hindu extremists, mostly in the state of Orissa. 

It is of particular attention that on November 7, 2011, leader of the VHP, Pravin Togadia, in his 

furious speech questioned the past of Muslims and Christians, and further gave a call to Hindus 

to capture the Islamic holy places in Arab and Vatican of Europe.

It is worth-mentioning that forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus also 

continue. In this regard, Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the RSS, converted at least 57 Muslim 

families (200 people) into Hindus at a ‘Purkhon Ki Ghar Vapsi’ (Coming home of the ancestors) 

ceremony in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. 

Previously, in early September 2014, Christians were also forcefully converted to Hindus which 

created unrest among Christian clergy. Four months ago, a similar event in Aligarh saw Christian 

families converting to Hinduism. BJP is trying to portray the event as wishful conversions; 

however, since installment of BJP government in the center, RSS and its offshoots have 

accelerated their efforts for minorities’ conversion into Hindus. 

As regards persecution of minorities in India, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission 

Testimony by Human Rights Watch presented before US Senate Committee on atrocious attitude 

of Hindu majority has highlighted the plight of minorities in India. The report was presented 

before Indian general elections 2014. 

But, it is strange that US government denied visa to Modi on the basis of his involvement in 

Gujrat pogrom, however, after his election as Indian prime minister, the stance of American 

government changed to his favour. And, more than 2500 Muslims were massacred in 2002 in the 

BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat. Regarding that massive genocide, both Human Rights Watch 

in 2002 and Amnesty International in 2003 charged the “Gujarat state administration” for 

involvement in “a massive cover-up of the state’s role in that massacre” and pointed out 

numerous police officials—specifically ministers, high officials and leaders of the VHP, BJP and 

Bajrang Dal as participants.” 

Nevertheless, some of the fanatic Hindu groups are not in favour of a separate and distinct 

culture for minorities. A Hindu fundamentalist namely Prof Balraj Madhok had suggested that 

the minorities must adopt Indian (Hindu) names. 

Now, schools and other educational institutions are being systematically Hinduized. References 

to Hindu gods and goddesses abound in the text books. Books, prescribed by the Education 

Boards contain lessons giving false stories of Muslim atrocities on Hindu women, kidnapping, 

forced conversion etc. 

Nonetheless, despite eye witness testimony, implicating the highest elected political officials, 

justice continues to evade the victims.  In a recent development, 70 accused persons of Gujrat 

pogrom were set free by the court. 

While, Narendra Modi, the then Chief Minister of Gujrat and mastermind of the Muslim 

massacre, has reportedly, destroyed all the documents related to the 2002 genocide of the 

Muslims. Keeping his past record, it can be forecasted easily that minorities in India will face 

further persecution and barbarity at the hands of Hindu extremists as Modi is in power saddles. 

Undoubtedly, Hindu fundamentalism is increasingly widening its influence everywhere and has 

already established for itself a firm base in every sector of the Indian society including 

bureaucracy, media, educational institutions, and the like. The hate campaign unleashed by the 

fundamentalist forces is keeping the minority wholly preoccupied with defending their basic 

human rights and cultural identity. 

It is the right hour that the West and particular the US must abandon its double standard by 

taking appropriate steps against persecution of minorities in India. Otherwise, Hindu extremists 

may cause World War 111 or clash of civilizations in wake of global war against terrorism.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, 

Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations.