Churches Razed, Mosques Demolished: The Facade of India’s Interfaith Harmony

As Narendra Modi’s India stages elaborate military and interfaith photo-ops to project an image of national unity, the reality on the ground tells a drastically different story. Even as Hindutva mobs lynch Muslims, crush Sikh farmers, and bulldoze Christian churches, the government orchestrates scripted displays of so-called religious harmony. Far from promoting real coexistence, these spectacles serve as a smokescreen to whitewash the ongoing persecution of India’s minorities.

Hindutva’s Hypocritical ‘Unity’ Stunt

In a bizarre display, Hindu soldiers were recently seen joining Muslim prayer congregations in what was framed as an act of interfaith brotherhood. However, this orchestrated moment starkly contrasts with the daily reality of anti-Muslim violence in India. The same Hindutva forces that ban hijabs in schools, demolish mosques, and attack Muslims for eating beef are now attempting to co-opt Islamic practices to manufacture a façade of inclusivity.

Muslims are routinely barred from entering temples, yet this sudden embrace of their religious rituals raises serious questions about the intentions behind such actions. Critics argue that this is not a gesture of unity but a propaganda tool aimed at distracting from the rising anti-Muslim hate crimes sweeping the country.

Sikhs: Convenient ‘Patriots’ or Persecuted Citizens?

The Sikh community, long targeted for their resistance against state oppression, is another pawn in India’s manufactured unity narrative. When India needs soldiers, Sikhs are labeled as loyal patriots, but the moment they demand justice—whether for the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms or for the brutal crackdown on protesting farmers—they are branded as “Khalistani terrorists.” The Indian state has a history of exploiting Sikhs in uniform while simultaneously attacking their rights, raiding their Gurudwaras, and demonizing their political movements.

Muslims in the Military: Props for Propaganda

The Indian Army has prominently featured Muslim soldiers in its PR campaigns, yet this symbolic inclusion does little to shield them from systemic discrimination. Behind the scenes, Muslims in the military face surveillance, limited career advancement, and suspicions of disloyalty. Their inclusion in staged events does not reflect real acceptance but serves as damage control in the face of India’s tarnished human rights record.

Dalits and Christians: Persecution in the Shadows

While Modi’s government attempts to present a secular front, caste-based violence against Dalits continues unabated. From being lynched for drinking water from upper-caste wells to being brutally attacked for interfaith marriages, Dalits remain oppressed under Hindutva’s supremacist ideology. Similarly, Christian communities face a relentless wave of church demolitions and mob attacks, particularly in the eastern states, where missionaries and pastors are frequently assaulted under the pretext of combating “forced conversions.”

The Psychological Warfare of Hindutva

This cycle of violence and staged unity is part of a broader psychological warfare strategy. By controlling the narrative, India attempts to silence global criticism while keeping its oppressed minorities under constant siege. The world must see through this charade and recognize that true unity cannot exist in a state that systematically brutalizes its non-Hindu populations.

As Modi’s government continues its deceptive tactics, it becomes increasingly clear that these unity stunts are nothing more than a desperate attempt to sanitize India’s global image. The reality, however, remains one of deep-seated oppression, making it imperative for international human rights bodies to call out the ongoing atrocities and hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity.