Since Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, India has witnessed a troubling surge in actions aimed at marginalizing its Muslim population.
The government, under the pretense of anti-encroachment drives, has been systematically demolishing mosques and Islamic shrines across the country. But these bulldozers tell a more profound story—a story of state-backed discrimination, with a clear target: India’s Muslim minority.
The demolitions are part of a broader campaign that seeks not just to clear land but to erase Islamic history and undermine the presence of Muslims in India’s socio-political landscape. Critics argue that this agenda reflects the BJP’s commitment to Hindu supremacy, an ideology that relegates minorities to second-class status. The result is an India where Muslims find their religious freedom under siege and their basic human rights constantly threatened.
- Marginalization Through Destruction -
Since 2014, violence against Muslims has escalated, manifesting in various forms—from mob lynchings to attacks on places of worship. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented a consistent pattern of aggression, often enabled by a state apparatus unwilling, or unable, to intervene. Inflammatory speeches by political leaders have further incited hatred, creating a hostile environment for Muslims across the country.
Laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have also added to this atmosphere of exclusion, leading many to believe that the government is actively working to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights. These measures, combined with the destruction of religious sites, suggest a concerted effort to not only erase Muslim identity but to erase Muslims from the fabric of Indian society altogether.
- Ignoring Court Orders -
Despite several court interventions to stop the demolitions, many of these rulings are either delayed or outright ignored. The judiciary's inability to enforce its decisions only strengthens the perception that the government is operating with impunity. The destruction of Islamic structures is not just a violation of property rights; it is a direct attack on the religious freedom that India, as a secular democracy, is supposed to uphold.
- International Scrutiny-
The international community has taken note of these developments. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently designated India as a country of concern, highlighting the deteriorating state of religious freedom under Modi's government. Such international condemnation serves as a reminder that India’s current trajectory is at odds with its democratic ideals.
