India has entered into a very critical phase of communal strife after the Hindu zealots led by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders openly called for genocide of the Muslims and persecution of other minorities through tacit extreme ploys. Indian and foreign media reports are rife with repeated incidents of lynching of Muslims and Dalits, destruction of Churches, trolling of scholars, detention of activists, the harassment of movie stars, persecution of the minorities, the erosion of fundamental rights, distortion of history, the usurpation of social media by hate speech and fake news and propaganda and encouragement of vigilantism.
The same alarming situation also found words in a Congressional briefing few days back as briefing warned that something similar to the inhumane Rwandan genocide could happen in India if stern action was not taken by the government of India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an obligation to denounce this genocidal speech. Yet, Narendra Modi has not spoken against it. The reason extremist groups in India are on the rise, is clear; they have impunity and support from Modi’s led government. Contrary to it, India prohibits hate speech under several sections of its penal code, including a section which criminalizes deliberate and malicious acts intended to insult religious beliefs.
Indian authorities have intensified their crackdown on activists, journalists, and other critics of the government using politically motivated prosecutions in 2021.The clampdown on dissent was facilitated by the draconian counterterrorism law, tax raids, foreign funding regulations, and charges of financial irregularities. The attacks against religious minorities are carried out with impunity under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Hindu nationalist government. BJP supporters engaged in mob attacks or threatened violence, while several states adopted laws and policies to target minority communities, particularly Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and Adivasis.
The Indian authorities have given up any appearance of tolerating dissent and are using the machinery of the state to silence critics.“At the same time, the BJP government has created an atmosphere in which minorities feel unsafe, at risk of assault by ruling party supporters. Many of the alleged murders went unpunished in part due to delayed police investigations and rhetoric from ruling party politicians, which certainly had incited mob violence.
At an event organised by Yati Narasinghanand, the priest of Dasna temple in Ghaziabad, targeted Muslims and urged Hindus to take up weapons against them. Swords look good on stage only. This battle will be won by those with better weapons, Indian media quoted him as saying. Later, another event in continuation of Hardiwar was organised and hosted by the Delhi section of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, at the Banarasidas Chandiwala Auditorium. The Hindu Yuva Vahini described itself as a fierce cultural and social organisation dedicated to Hindutva and nationalism. Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, is its chief patron and founder. The organization had a record of anti-Muslim and anti-Christian violence in Uttar Pradesh.
Similarly various Hindu right-wing members including the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and journalists also called for genocide against Muslims and asked Hindus to buy weapons to unleash a Muslim genocide.
One of the members, Sadhvi Annapurna Maa was seen bragging. Nothing is possible without weapons and we have to carry knife or sword to kill them if you want to eliminate the population kill Muslims. If 100 of us are ready to kill 20 lakh Muslims, then we will win and make India a Hindu Rashtra. Be ready to kill and go to jail.
