From Secularism to Sectarianism: Modi’s Hindutva Agenda and Its Impact on Minorities
Advocate Sidra Sadozai
Once praised as the largest secular democracy in the world, India is currently experiencing a concerning change from its original ideals of inclusivity and pluralism to a majoritarian and sectarian political system. A strong Hindutva ideology has supplanted the nation’s secular fabric under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), causing widespread fear, marginalization, and violence against caste and religious minorities, especially Muslims, Dalits, and Christians.
Hindutva’s Ascent in Indian Politics
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s parent organization, promotes the Hindutva ideology, which demands that India become a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation). Hindutva is a political ideology that sees India primarily as a land of and for Hindus, in contrast to Hinduism, which is a diverse and inclusive religion. This ideology has spread from the periphery to the center since Modi took office in 2014, permeating public discourse, education, legislation, and state institutions.
CAA/NRC: Discrimination in the Law Passed Off as Reform
The introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019, which for the first time in India’s history made religion a requirement for citizenship, was one of the most obvious examples of this change. By giving non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan expedited citizenship, the CAA blatantly excludes Muslims and thereby institutionalizes religious discrimination.
When combined with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), which requires people to provide proof of citizenship, the law puts millions of people in danger, particularly poor and marginalized Muslims who might not have birth or land records. Nearly 1.9 million people, many of whom were Muslims and Bengali Hindus, were left stateless in Assam after a version of the NRC was put into effect.
A culture of fear and uncertainty has been fostered by these policies. The 200 million Muslims who make up India’s largest religious minority are being disenfranchised and delegitimized, according to critics.
Hate Speech and BJP Leaders’ Role
Not only is the law a threat to minorities, but the language of those in positions of authority also makes matters worse. Senior BJP officials and their associates frequently use hate speech without consequence. At rallies with BJP support, slogans such as “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko” (Shoot the traitors of the nation) were yelled. Proposals to declare India a Hindu-only country, ban Muslim-owned companies, and limit interfaith marriages through so-called “love jihad” laws have all become common political rhetoric.
Top BJP leaders frequently ignore or even support such speeches rather than denounce them, sending the dangerous message that hate is acceptable under state sanction.
Street-Level Violence and Lynching by Mobs
Horrible violence on the ground has resulted from the normalization of hate speech. Since 2014, mob lynchings have increased, frequently under the guise of protecting cows. While police either looked on helplessly or participated in the crimes, innocent Muslims have been killed, dragged from their homes, and beaten in public.
When Muslims and Dalits are accused of transporting or consuming beef, organizations such as Cow Protection Squads (Gau Rakshaks) operate with impunity. Before being killed, the victims are frequently humiliated, tortured, and captured on camera.
The 2017 lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was among the most horrific incidents. The accused were acquitted in spite of video evidence, which reflects a judiciary that is becoming less willing to provide minorities with justice when the offenders are associated with Hindutva forces.
Taking aim at Dalits and Christians
Although Muslims are the main targets, violence against Christians and Dalits has also increased. Under the pretense of “ghar wapsi” (homecoming) campaigns, churches have been vandalized, pastors have been attacked, and Christian tribals have been compelled to convert back to Hinduism.
The Hindu caste system has historically oppressed Dalits, who are brutally repressed when they question the status quo. Perpetrators of atrocities like rapes, murders, and public beatings frequently receive political protection if they are connected to pro-BJP or upper-caste organizations.
Criminalizing solidarity and stifling dissent
The concurrent suppression of dissent is what increases the danger of this sectarian shift. Under harsh laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sedition laws, activists, students, journalists, and non-governmental organizations who voice their opposition to these injustices are labeled as “anti-national” and face legal retaliation. Prominent scholars and human rights advocates have been imprisoned without charge or trial for simply voicing opposition to government policies or expressing support for Muslim victims of violence.
Press freedom is in danger, and the media has mostly turned into a vehicle for state propaganda, using sensationalism and fabricated outrage to divert attention from pressing problems.
International censure and domestic quiet
India’s sectarian drift has drawn serious concern from the international community, including the United Nations, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and several human rights organizations. However, the democratic resistance in India is dispersed and undermined by surveillance and fear.
In a divided electorate, opposition parties frequently are reluctant to openly oppose the Hindutva narrative for fear of being labeled as “pro-Muslim.” This silence widens the gap between communities and helps normalize hatred.
In conclusion, a country at a turning point
India is currently at a perilous juncture. A sectarian agenda that jeopardizes the republic’s soul is undermining the constitutional promise of equality, liberty, and fraternity. The shift from secularism to sectarianism is a moral and existential crisis rather than merely a change in policy.
India is being reshaped by Modi’s Hindutva project, which is turning a multireligious democracy into a Hindu majoritarian state where violence is accepted, laws are weaponized, and minorities live in fear. Silence and complicity will allow this perilous slide into authoritarian communalism to continue unchecked, or Indian society and its institutions will have the guts to reclaim the secular, pluralistic vision that its founders once envisioned.
This trend needs to be stopped for the benefit of India, as well as for the sake of democracy and human dignity. before it’s too late.
