2 weeks Ago
India’s deep-seated hostility toward its minorities continues unabated, but when it comes to Muslims, this animosity escalates into a campaign of systemic persecution. The latest example is the passage of a bill in the Indian parliament aimed at restructuring the Waqf boards—Muslim charitable endowments that manage properties donated for religious and social welfare purposes. These boards play a crucial role in overseeing Muslim affairs, ensuring that wealth is preserved and fairly distributed within the community.
Most importantly, they maintain a degree of autonomy, allowing Muslims to manage their own institutions without state interference. But for Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, even this limited self-governance is intolerable. Having already overseen the demolition of mosques, the marginalisation of Muslim politicians and public figures, and the erasure of Islamic heritage from India’s history, the BJP government is now intent on dismantling every remaining vestige of Muslim autonomy and economic stability.
Its goal appears to be the systematic relegation of India’s nearly 200 million Muslims to second-class status. The justifications put forward by the BJP do not withstand scrutiny, especially when viewed against the backdrop of its broader campaign against Muslims. The same government that claims administrative necessity in altering Waqf board structures has openly supported—or at the very least, turned a blind eye to—vigilante groups that target Muslim communities with impunity.
It has rationalised mob lynchings by blaming the victims, justified the destruction of historic mosques under dubious claims of temple restoration, and allowed Hindu extremist organisations to terrorise minorities unchecked. The world must take note of the Indian government’s growing authoritarianism and condemn it for what it is. More importantly, Indians themselves must recognise the dangers of this trajectory.
Today, it is Muslims who bear the brunt of state-backed persecution, but tomorrow, it could be Christians, Dalits, Sikhs, Jains, or any other minority that finds itself in the BJP’s crosshairs. The erosion of rights for one community ultimately threatens the freedoms of all..
