NEW DELHI – The majoritarian psych assiduously propounded by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and in several states, has resulted in increased attacks on the country’s minorities, especially Muslims and Christians.
The BJP’s purported Hindu nationalism and the government’s apathy have taken a heavy toll on the lives and honour of the minorities with a significant surge in violence cases reported in the country.
The latest figures released by the United Christian Forum (UCF), a New Delhi-based civil society organisation focused on Christian issues, claimed that there were 834 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024, which is 100 more than the 734 incidents that occurred in 2023.
In a recent statement, the UCF expressed concern over the growing incidents of violence against Christians. It said the most worrying thing is that more than two Christians are being targeted every day in the country simply for practicing their religion.
These incidents take many forms, including attacks on churches or prayer gatherings, harassment of those who practice their faith, boycotts and restrictions on access to community resources, false accusations and criminal cases, especially cases related to forced conversions, the statement noted.
The controversial and draconian laws against religious conversion in several BJP-ruled states have provided a weapon to Hindutva activists and the state to crack down on minorities. Since 2014, when the BJP government led by Narendra Modi came to power, such incidents have increased rapidly.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.