500% Rise in Violence Against Christians Under Modi: BJP’s Complicity in Hindutva’s Persecution of Religious Minorities

Salient Features :

• Rise in Violence: The number of hate crimes against Christians in India has increased by 500% since 2014.
• BJP’s Role: The BJP’s embrace of Hindutva ideology has contributed significantly to the rise in religious violence.
• Tribal Christians: Tribal Christians, particularly in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, face targeted violence with little state intervention.
• Legal Failures: The Indian judiciary and law enforcement have failed to provide justice or take action against perpetrators of religious violence.
• Media’s Complicity: The media has been slow to cover the violence, often amplifying extremist voices while ignoring the persecution of minorities.

Introduction: The State of Religious Minorities in India

Since 2014, violence against religious minorities, especially Christians, has surged dramatically under the BJP government. Attacks on Christians have increased by 500%, with incidents rising from 139 in 2014 to 834 in 2024. The situation highlights a deeper issue of religious intolerance linked to the government’s failure to address this growing violence. As the number of attacks continues to rise, India’s secular and democratic values are increasingly under threat.

BJP’s Role in Fostering Religious Hatred

The BJP has fostered a climate of religious violence by promoting Hindutva ideology, which marginalizes non-Hindu communities. This has led to an increase in attacks on Christians, as extremist groups gain support under the BJP’s rule. The government’s indifference to these attacks has allowed them to escalate without consequence, emboldening perpetrators. The BJP’s political agenda, using religion to divide society, further exacerbates the hostility faced by religious minorities.

♦ Hindutva Ideology: Fueling Division
The BJP’s adoption of Hindutva has led to widespread intolerance towards religious minorities, particularly Christians, who face increased hostility and violence.
♦ Failure to Address Religious Violence
Despite a growing number of violent incidents, the government has failed to take meaningful action to prevent or address the violence against religious minorities.
♦ The BJP’s Electoral Strategy: Exploiting Religious Divisions
By using religious conversion as a political tool, particularly during elections, the BJP has further deepened divisions within Indian society and fueled violence against minorities.

The Plight of Tribal Christians: A Forgotten Minority

Tribal Christians in regions like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are increasingly targeted by extremist Hindu groups. The rise in violence against these communities is compounded by the government’s failure to intervene. Despite increasing reports of violence, the government has done little to protect these vulnerable groups. Tribal Christians are left to face persecution without any real support from the state, which has allowed the violence to continue unchecked.

♦ Tribal Areas: Epicenter of Religious Violence
Tribal Christians in states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand face violent attacks, and local authorities have failed to take action to protect them from extremists.
♦ State Neglect: The Failure of Local Authorities
Local authorities have consistently failed to act on complaints of violence, further allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
♦ A Systemic Problem: Government Inaction at All Levels
The government’s consistent failure to address violence against tribal Christians reflects a larger systemic issue of neglect and lack of accountability.

The Shocking Statistics of Hate Crimes Against Christians

Hate crimes against Christians have reached alarming levels, with 834 attacks reported in 2024 alone. In 2025, 579 incidents were reported in just the first nine months, but only 39 FIRs were filed. The rising number of attacks, coupled with the lack of legal action, indicates a breakdown in India’s legal system. The government’s failure to take action has allowed hate groups to thrive, making it clear that the rule of law does not apply to religious minorities.

♦ Increasing Attacks: A Systemic Crisis
The rising number of violent incidents against Christians, coupled with the lack of legal action, highlights a systemic crisis of religious intolerance in India.
♦ BJP’s Strategy of Exploiting Religious Conversion
By using conversion issues as a political tool, the BJP has contributed directly to the rise in violence against religious minorities, especially during election seasons.
♦ The Lack of Legal Accountability: A National Shame
Despite the growing number of attacks, the failure to prosecute perpetrators of violence against Christians reflects a deep flaw in India’s legal system.

The Growing Influence of Hindutva in Indian Society

The rise of Hindutva has polarized Indian society, making it increasingly hostile toward religious minorities. The BJP’s support of Hindutva has normalized anti-Christian sentiment, leading to a rise in violence against Christians and Muslims. The ideology’s spread has influenced public discourse, where minority communities are increasingly viewed as outsiders. The government’s failure to confront this rising extremism has allowed hate-driven politics to take hold, which threatens India’s secular identity.

♦ Hindutva’s Social Impact: Deepening Divisions
The spread of Hindutva has deepened divisions in Indian society, leading to a hostile environment for religious minorities.
♦ The Endorsement of Extremist Views
The BJP’s endorsement of extremist views has legitimized violence against minorities, contributing to the growing intolerance in Indian society.
♦ The Normalization of Anti-Christian Sentiment
Anti-Christian rhetoric has become more mainstream under the BJP, allowing hate groups to operate without fear of legal or social consequences.

Institutional Breakdown: A Threat to Democracy

India’s legal and law enforcement systems have failed to protect its religious minorities, with the police and judiciary consistently ignoring or dismissing complaints of religious violence. The lack of accountability for perpetrators has allowed violence to continue unchecked, undermining the rule of law. This breakdown in India’s institutions represents a direct threat to the country’s democratic values, as minorities continue to face persecution without any real protection from the state.

♦ The Judiciary’s Failure to Protect Religious Minorities
The judiciary’s failure to convict perpetrators of hate crimes against religious minorities reflects the broader failure of India’s legal system to ensure justice for its citizens.
♦ The Media’s Complicity in Perpetuating Bias
The media’s tendency to downplay violence against minorities and amplify extremist voices has contributed to the normalization of hate crimes.
♦ The Need for Reform in Indian Institutions
India’s institutions must be reformed to ensure they protect all citizens, especially religious minorities, and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.

Conclusion: A Secular India in Crisis

The rise in violence against Christians and other religious minorities under the BJP government represents a grave threat to India’s secular identity. The government’s failure to address religious violence has allowed it to continue unchecked, leading to widespread fear and division in the country. Immediate and decisive action is required to restore the rule of law and protect India’s democratic values. Unless the government acts, India’s reputation as a secular democracy will remain deeply tarnished, and its religious minorities will continue to live in fear.