THE RISE OF HINDUTVA IDEOLOGY; THREATS TO RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN INDIA

Abstract

This paper critically examines the ideological rise of Hindutva, spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and its profound implications for religious minorities in India, particularly Muslims. As India enters the third term of BJP-led governance, it increasingly reflects a political order where secularism is eroded and nationalism is conflated with Hindu identity. Through institutional convergence between the state and the RSS, Hindutva ideology has gained unprecedented mainstream legitimacy—redefining citizenship, marginalizing dissent, and targeting Muslim minorities as "internal enemies." Drawing on comparative frameworks, including parallels with ethnonationalist regimes like Nazi Germany, the study exposes the systematic disenfranchisement of Muslims through hate speech, anti-conversion laws, ghettoization, exclusion from political representation, and surveillance. Furthermore, the analysis explores the role of media propaganda, both traditional and digital, in reinforcing anti-Muslim sentiment. The paper also assesses international responses, including UN criticism and Western diplomatic hesitation, revealing a global accountability gap. The study argues that without the inclusion and protection of its largest minority, India cannot achieve genuine peace or democratic legitimacy. It concludes with actionable policy recommendations for both the international community and Indian institutions to address the threats posed by rising majoritarianism and to restore the pluralistic foundation upon which Indian democracy was built.

Keywords-  Hindutva Ideology, Threats to Religious Minorities & India