Washington: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said the BJP is trying to turn India into a clear Hindu state. The commission noted that India’s political system increasingly favors the majority religion and discriminates against religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs.
The report highlights close ties between the ruling BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It says these links have helped push laws and policies at both national and state levels that restrict religious freedoms and target minority communities.
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Since 2014, the commission says, the BJP has systematically implemented sectarian policies. The RSS supports the party’s agenda through volunteers and grassroots mobilization, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly among their members. These efforts, the report notes, aim to establish India as a Hindu-majority state.
The commission warned that religious minorities face rising discrimination, harassment, and legal restrictions. It stressed that laws limiting freedom of religion, including restrictions on worship, conversions, and religious expression, are growing.
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It urged international attention to India’s policies and called for stronger protection of minority rights to ensure equality and religious freedom across the country.