India, known as a nation of enormous diversity, is home to over 700 races and six major religions. Its Constitution upholds secularism, asserting the country as one that regards all religions, not identifying with any one faith. Yet, notwithstanding this democratic allegiance, the Hindu majority has made life problematic for religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims, Dalits, and Christians.
These groups face systemic prejudice in primary concerns such as education, employment, and access to services, which has resulted in momentous social and economic disemployment. This circumstance is further synthesized by rising violent civil disorder.
In the last years, there has been an increase in religiously motivated aggression, often targeting minority groups, especially Muslims. This has instilled fear and insecurity among these communities, with their homes, businesses, and places of worship suffering violence and destruction. The governmental landscape has not helped relieve these problems, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promote a Hindu-nationalist ideology.
Under Modi’s leadership, the number of Muslim lawmakers in Parliament has dwindled, with no Muslim representatives in the BJP-led government. This exclusion has further hindered the ability of Muslim communities to demand the resources and political attention they need to thrive.
Muslims, who make up about 13% of India’s population, face stark underrepresentation in politics. In the current Parliament, Muslims hold only 25 out of 543 seats, a significant drop from the 1980s when they had a more substantial presence.
Hindu Nationalism and Its Toll
This marginalization is noticeable at the state level as well, where Muslims amount to only about 6% of state lawmakers in spite of making up a similar percentage of the population. This insufficiency of political voice limits their potentiality to push for policies that would address their economic and social challenges.
Also, there have been accusations of discrimination against Muslims while enacting or proposing laws and policies during Modi’s rule. This is apparent in several incidents, such as the BJP’s proposal for the Uniform Civil Code, which many argue could infringe on the religious rights and practices of the Muslims.
Additionally, several BJP-led states have enacted laws that ban inter-caste marriages in an effort to discourage ‘love jihad,’ in which Hindu women marry Muslim men. Furthermore, the banning of the hijab in schools in certain states also introduced huge schisms.
Violence against Muslims has become disturbingly common, with Hindu mobs attacking individuals over allegations related to cow slaughter or beef consumption, practices considered offensive by some Hindu groups.
The violence, often sanctioned by a lack of accountability, has not been deterred by the government, leading to widespread fear. Modi himself has made inflammatory remarks, labelling Muslims as “infiltrators” and accusing opposition parties of attempting to redistribute wealth from Hindus to Muslims, despite no evidence to support these claims.
The Decline of Muslim Representation in Indian Politics
The erosion of Muslim political power is evident not only in the legislature but also in the absence of Muslims in executive roles. For example, no state in India has a Muslim chief minister, and Muslim representation in state assemblies remains disproportionately low, particularly in key states like Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims make up a significant portion of the population but hold only a small percentage of legislative seats. This situation has led to a sense of disenfranchisement, as Muslim politicians and citizens struggle to form a unified political platform.
The situation is aggravated by the rise of right-wing extremist groups associated with the BJP’s ideology. These groups, which promote Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), have instigated violence against Muslims and other minorities.
The spread of misinformation and hate speech, often amplified through social media and some mainstream media channels, has only deepened divisions and exacerbated tensions. Additionally, the Indian government’s crackdown on dissent, including the harassment of journalists and activists who criticize the government or highlight the mistreatment of minorities, has further silenced opposition voices.
Despite these constraints, Muslims continue to experience significant disadvantages in the economic and social spheres. The research conducted on the everyday life of the members of the Muslim community has shown that they are less educated and have a substantially lower income than the Hindus.
How Radicalism and Marginalization Undermine India’s Unity
Muslim children have higher dropout rates from school and complete lower levels of education than Hindu children as well. As to the working, the Muslims are less vis-à-vis formal employments but more in informal, low-paid jobs. These inequalities in education and work continue to explain the socio-economic marginalization of Muslims in Indian society.
Moreover, the Hindu nationalist movement was an important source of problems for other religious communities aside from Muslims, including Christians and Sikhs, who have to endure discriminatory practices and violence. The increasing radicalism and the consolidation of the majoritarian ideology have put India’s democracy in severe threat of becoming more authoritarian than it has ever been before.
The orthodoxies put forward by the BJP and its associated bodies seem to point towards a form of nationalism that is more inward-looking and threatens the multicultural ethos that used to be the cornerstone of democracy in India.
From Democracy to Authoritarianism?
India’s Constitution, while enshrining secularism and safeguarding minority rights, has faced increasing challenges in the face of growing communalism and reigious nationalism.
The courts have played a key role in interpreting and protecting minority rights, but there remains a growing concern about the erosion of these protections in the current political climate. The rise of religious extremism and the disemployment of Muslims are key indicators of India’s slide toward authoritarianism, with parallels to the fascist ideologies of the past.
While language and policies that aim to divide people remain in the ongoing political affairs in India, a way forward for the country, as a diverse and democratic nation, is fast fading.
Focusing on a Hindu nation has affected the rights of other groups, including potentials for Muslims and others to uphold their cultural and religious identity. The country has a paramount duty to protect the interests of every citizen regardless of his religion or ethnic background so that the principles embedded in the Constitution of India remain intact.
And the most important question now is whether India would be able to restore its secular character or if the forces of division and exclusion will dictate its future course.
