As the world commemorates Human Rights Day when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948. It is pertinent to highlight the human rights abuse in a state who is signatory and supporter of this declaration. The Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to implement laws that not only discriminate but also stigmatize religious and other minorities. The way Narendra Modi as a Chief Minister of Gujarat facilitated genocide of Muslims now as an Indian Prime Minister, he is facilitating communal violence against minorities across the country. The administrative authorities facilitating the violence by harshly punishing victim population, including those who opposed such abuses, the police in BJP-governed states neglected to adequately investigate crimes against minorities. The National Human Rights Commission and other constitutional bodies that were created to defend the rights of women, children, religious minorities, tribal communities, and Dalits did not operate independently.
The rise of Hindutva ideology, accompanied by hate speeches and a culture of impunity for the people involved in gross violation of human rights against minorities. The head of the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom also highlighted the sharp decline in religious freedom in India under the Modi regime. Hate speech against minorities increased by 74% in India in 2024, reaching its highest point during the national elections. Politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the most frequent propagandists of hate speech, according to a report published by the Washington-based research group India Hate Lab, which detailed 1,165 such incidents last year. 98.5% of recorded hate speech incidents targeted Muslims, making them the most targeted group. The majority of hate speech incidents took place in states controlled by Modi’s party or larger alliance. The communal hate speeches against Muslims in India demonizing Muslims, calling for the destruction of their mosques and converting them into temples. Making open calls for their slaughter. The “Jab Mulle Kaate Jaayenge,” slogans raised in protest by radical Hindus in the presence of security personnel. Cow devotees routinely massacre Muslims in India on suspicion of killing or transporting cows. Even Genocide Watch has warned of Muslims Genocide in India. The social fabric for minorities is shrinking in so-called Republic of India, where they are subjected to structural and cultural violence. Citizenship Amendment Act, Waqf Bill, Domicile law, and all such legal amendments aimed to marginalize minorities.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom, since 2020 has consistently advised the US Department of State to classify India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), with the most recent recommendation found in its 2025 Annual Report. USCIRF also raised concerns regarding the targeting of religious minorities abroad.
Following the tragic incident in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, Kashmiris have been subjected to collective punishment. Sweeping operations conducted by Indian officials throughout Jammu and Kashmir following the incident, leading to the arrest and incarceration of almost 2800 people, including journalists and human rights advocates under Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act both condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for enabling indefinite detention without trial or charges.
The houses of alleged suspects without any evidence demolished, with a neighboring house bearing the brunt having their windows shattered, doors broke and walls cracked. Hate speech, including calls for the rape and sexual abuse of Muslim women in Kashmir by Hindu right-wing extremists, has swiftly proliferated online since the attack. Violence and intimidation against Kashmiris, particularly students, have reportedly increased across India. They were subjected to physical assault, refusal of accommodation and commercial discrimination; universities suspended Kashmiri students inquiring about their personal data and local addresses, Kashmiris are endangered to institutional profiling. Communication blackouts and restrictions on press freedom are imposed to hide their heinous crimes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The independent news outlets are subjected to fake raids by State Investigation Agency aimed to silence the independent reporting. The UN experts also raised concerns alleging that Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had committed grave human rights breaches. Similar pattern was observed following Pulwama Attack 2019, mobs attacked Kashmiris in India, forcing them to return to the valley out of fear. It revealed an unpleasant reality: being Muslim and Kashmiri can be interpreted as provocative in Modi’s India.
Author: Syeda Tahreem Bukhari is an Associate Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies, AJK. She holds M Phil in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defence University, Islamabad. She is also Alumni at Near East South Asia National Defence University, Washington D.C. She is also Peace Ambassador at the Institute of Economics and Peace. She posts @Tehmii_Syed
