In 2025, fight by India's marginalised for survival and dignity to continue

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Will the year 2025 brings a glimmer of hope for Dalits, Christians, and Muslims in India, who have endured years of marginalisation and rising atrocities? Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a marked increase in violence and discrimination against India's marginalized communities, particularly Dalits, Christians, and Muslims. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates that a crime is committed against a Dalit every 18 minutes, with 13 Dalits murdered each week and 27 atrocities occurring daily. Muslims have faced escalating violence, including mob lynchings under the guise of "cow protection" and targeted communal attacks.

In 2022, there were 272 instances of communal violence, slightly down from 378 in 2021, yet the persistence of such incidents remains alarming. These figures underscore a systemic failure to protect minority communities, with perpetrators often enjoying impunity. The government's silence and, at times, tacit endorsement of majoritarian ideologies has emboldened extremist elements, leading to a climate of fear and oppression. Christians have also experienced increased persecution. Reports indicate that police sometimes aid crowds disrupting worship services, accusing them of forced conversions. Between 2014 and 2024, incidents targeting Christians in India have surged. According to the United Christian Forum, there were over 500 reported incidents of violence against Christians in 2021 alone. This includes physical assaults, threats, and the disruption of religious services. In 2022, the All India Christian Council reported that nearly 350 incidents of Christian persecution were documented, with the majority occurring in states with strict anticonversion laws.

Incidents of hate crimes, forced conversions, and the demolition of Christian properties have intensified, often under the guise of enforcing "anti-conversion" laws. The rise of Hindu nationalism has exacerbated religious divisions, with policies that marginalise minority communities. International rights organisations have expressed concern over these developments. Amnesty International reports that government officials and supporters of the BJP have advocated hatred and violence against religious minorities with impunity, particularly Muslims, marking a rise in hate crimes.

Despite constitutional protections, the Modi government's policies and the emboldenment of extremist groups have led to a climate where atrocities against Dalits, Christians, and Muslims have become routine. The international community continues to monitor these developments, urging the Indian government to uphold its constitutional commitment to secularism and the protection of all its citizens. For Dalits, Christians, and Muslims, 2025 is a battle for survival and dignity. Their fight is not just against a regime, but against decades of structural oppression.