India’s Hindutva Agenda in Kashmir: An Attack on Faith and Freedom

The BJP government has once again shown its bias by ordering schools in Doda district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to make the recitation of the Hindu song ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory every Monday. The order, issued on November 1 by the district’s Chief Education Officer, has caused widespread anger across the occupied region. Religious leaders, scholars, and civil groups have condemned it as part of a plan to impose the Hindutva ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Kashmir’s Muslim-majority population.

♦ Violation of Freedom:
The decision is not patriotism but a direct violation of religious freedom. Forcing Muslim children to sing verses that glorify Hindu deities is an attack on their beliefs and a continuation of India’s plan to erase Kashmir’s Islamic identity.

Hindutva Ideology Behind the Order

♦ Use of Education for Political Control:
The RSS, the guiding force behind the BJP, has long worked to turn India into a Hindu-only nation. The latest order in Doda is part of this mission. Schools are being used to spread one religion’s culture while silencing all others.

♦ State Institutions Misused:
Instead of focusing on education and equality, the Modi government has turned schools into political tools. Children are being used to promote a one-sided idea of nationalism that serves the BJP’s religious agenda.

Condemnation by Religious Leaders

♦ Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Speaks Out:
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, senior APHC leader and head of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), said the order is a “deliberate attempt to impose Hindutva ideology on Kashmir’s Muslims.” He explained that ‘Vande Mataram’ contains verses that conflict with Islam’s belief in the oneness of Allah. He said real love for one’s country should be shown through service and compassion, not by acts that go against one’s faith.

♦ Faith Cannot Be Forced:
Mirwaiz said Islam forbids worship or reverence directed at anyone other than the Creator. Forcing Muslim students to sing a Hindu song is a violation of their faith and another sign of the government’s growing intolerance.

Grand Mufti’s Strong Rejection of the Move

♦ Nasir-ul-Islam’s Response:
Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam called the directive a “blasphemous act” and a “provocation against Muslims.” He said the lyrics of ‘Vande Mataram’, which praise Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, go against the Islamic belief in one God. He demanded the order be cancelled immediately and those responsible be held accountable.

♦ Warning of Tensions:
The Grand Mufti said the decision could cause unrest if not withdrawn. He warned that forcing religion through such orders would deepen divisions and create more anger among Kashmiris who already live under political and cultural pressure.

APHC’s Statement Against Cultural Suppression

♦ Targeting Muslim Identity:
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said the move exposes India’s plan to assimilate Kashmiri Muslims into a Hindu identity under the name of nationalism. The BJP government, it said, is attacking not only Kashmir’s political freedom but also its faith and cultural roots.

♦ Nationalism as a Tool of Control:
The APHC said that forcing Muslims to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ is not about unity but domination. It is another way for India to control minds and weaken Kashmir’s Islamic spirit.

Violation of Rights and Religious Freedom

♦ Breach of Constitutional Protections:
The order breaks the right to religious freedom under Article 25 of India’s Constitution, which allows every citizen to follow their faith. Yet, in occupied Kashmir, these rights mean nothing under Modi’s rule. This order is one more example of India’s disregard for its own laws.

♦ Attack on Kashmir’s Culture:
Kashmir’s people have faced decades of political oppression and now face religious pressure. Forcing them to recite a Hindu song is an insult to their identity and faith. It shows that India’s control over Kashmir is not about governance but about enforcing submission.

Hindutva Expansion Across India

♦ Nationwide Agenda of Control:
The Doda order fits into the BJP’s broader plan to spread Hindutva across India. Textbooks are being rewritten, cities renamed, and history altered to glorify Hindu rulers while erasing Muslim contributions.

♦ Education Used as Propaganda:
Instead of promoting diversity and learning, schools are being used to enforce religious uniformity. The Modi government’s version of patriotism now demands loyalty not to the country but to the Hindutva ideology.

Global Silence and Responsibility of the World

♦ Lack of International Response:
Despite reports of religious persecution in India and occupied Kashmir, Western governments remain silent due to their economic and strategic interests with New Delhi. This silence gives the Modi regime the confidence to continue its discriminatory policies.

♦ Need for Global Pressure:
Human rights organisations and international bodies must act before the situation worsens. India must be reminded that forced religion and cultural domination are violations of global human rights standards.

Conclusion: India’s Moral Decline Under Modi

♦ Patriotism Turned Into Oppression:
The compulsory recitation of ‘Vande Mataram’ is not about national pride but about enforcing Hindu superiority. The Modi government has turned nationalism into a weapon against minorities, using faith to justify discrimination.

♦ Kashmir’s Defiance and Hope:
Leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam have shown courage by speaking against this injustice. Their words represent the strength of the Kashmiri people, who continue to defend their beliefs despite occupation and oppression. Until India ends its Hindutva campaign and respects religious freedom, it will remain a country divided by its own intolerance and moral failure.