Religious persecution in “secular” India

Human rights in the “biggest democracy”

Almost all the states in the world have laws that protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the minorities living in them. Likewise every constitution protects the rights of minorities living in that particular country, but the case is totally different in India. Our big neighbour, that likes to call itself the biggest democracy and a secular state, has vast anomalies in its written constitution as opposed to the situation and laws practiced in its various states. The constitution of India provides legal equality for its citizens irrespective of their religions and forbids religion-based discrimination. On the contrary, there are serious challenges regarding religious tolerance and religious freedom violations have dramatically increased in some Indian states. After the BJP formed government in 2014, the violations have consistently increased and now there are serious concerns about the fate of religious minorities in the country.

Since the extremist Modi government came to power, hate crimes, assaults, conversions and social boycotts of the religious minorities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Dalits have increased which is a source of great concern. These incidents have been reported from various states like Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The ghastly situation prevailing in the so-called “secular” country was recently reported in a research sponsored by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which clearly showed that religious tolerance is drastically deteriorating in India. The report has examined the state laws across the country and found that while India’s constitution guarantees equal rights to religious minorities but the local state laws are working on the contrary which adversely affect the minorities. This report came when simultaneously it was revealed that anti-Christian attacks were held 10 times per week throughout 2016, which made India 15^th worst country in which to be a Christian according to the World Watch List compiled by the Open Doors watchdog. India jumped to the 15^th position from 31^st over just a four year period which shows a dramatic escalation of religious intolerance during the rule of the Hindu nationalist party BJP led by Narendra Modi.

This is the sorry state of affairs in a country which boasts its secular ideals and acts like hegemony in the region intimidating other neighbouring states. No doubt India shows its intolerant and extremist mindset when religious minorities and Dalits face persecution based on ill-defined laws and inefficient criminal justice system. These discriminatory laws which affect all but the Hindus severely contradict with the international standards of freedom of religion or belief. There are numerous examples of forced conversions to Hinduism which also depict the narrow nationalist beliefs and growing intolerance. There also have been reports of Muslim persecution where Muslims were targeted and harassed under the cow protection laws which are based on anti-Muslim sentiments. Muslims comprise of more than 14 percent of the Indian population. One of the recent examples of Muslim persecution through cow politics is the killing of Mohammad Akhlaq by a Hindu mob in 2015 under the charge of eating and storing beef.

On the other hand, there is the ghastly problem of caste system in India, which is a fundamental part of Hinduism. There is a practice of un-touchability against the Dalits who fall outside the four-fold caste system and are considered untouchables. This status denies the Dalits their social, political and economic rights and they are made to do quite menial and humiliating jobs, as they are denied the social acceptance in the society as equals to upper caste Hindus. According to statistics everyday 13 Dalits are murdered and five Dalit homes are destroyed — a crime is committed against a Dalit every eighteen minutes, which is quite an alarming situation and gross violation of fundamental human rights. It is a known fact that since the BJP assumed power, religious minority communities have been subjected to derogatory comments by politicians and there have been countless violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups such as RSS. These groups, including the BJP, believe in the ideology of “Hindutva” which seeks to make India a Hindu based state.

In a world that is fast moving towards the freedom and equality of all individuals irrespective of religion, caste or creed, India’s narrow and intolerant behaviour towards religious minorities is a glaring contradiction which goes against the values of fundamental human rights. The persecution going on in the country against minorities is totally opposite from the secular ideals that it claims to follow. Secularism is based on the principles of tolerance and equality which sadly India lacks. Instead of pointing fingers at neighbours and trying to dominate the region by calling itself a so-called economic power, India should first bring its own house in order and follow the international norms of human rights. The Indian and state governments should align their laws with the country’s constitutional commitments and the international human rights standards. It should broaden its tolerance level at both societal and political levels and should come out of the centuries old caste systems which are no more prevalent on any other part of the world.