Retired Officials Warn Against Rising Muslim Persecution in India

Seventeen retired Indian officials warn Prime Minister Modi that rising Muslim persecution is jeopardizing India’s secular identity and democratic values.

A group of seventeen prominent retired Indian civil servants, diplomats, and public figures have issued a scathing letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decrying the rise of persecution against Muslims in India. These individuals, including former Delhi Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung and ex-Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, express grave concerns over the escalating violence and discrimination faced by Muslim communities since Modi’s government came to power in 2014.

The letter highlights a disturbing surge in incidents targeting Muslims, from lynchings to hate speech. The signatories argue that these acts of violence and harassment are not isolated, but rather the result of deliberate state-sanctioned indifference, with several state governments fostering an environment of intolerance. The letter critiques Modi’s leadership, alleging that his administration has failed to protect minorities and allowed divisive rhetoric to flourish.

Since 2014, incidents of Muslim-targeted violence have escalated. The retired officials pointed out that the situation has worsened as state governments, particularly in BJP-ruled regions, increasingly overlook or even support attacks against Muslims. Lynching, communal hate speech, and the targeting of Muslim businesses and homes have become disturbingly common.

The letter doesn’t just call attention to violence but also to the disturbing trend of rewriting India’s history. The signatories cited actions by right-wing groups seeking to survey and potentially alter historic mosques and Sufi shrines like the Ajmer dargah. Such actions, they argue, aim to erode India’s pluralistic, secular foundations. The judiciary’s response to these demands, they claim, further threatens the nation’s constitutional commitment to secularism and religious freedom.

The letter urges Modi to take immediate action. First, they demand he publicly denounce the divisive rhetoric and violence that has taken root under his watch. Second, they call for state governments to strictly uphold India’s constitutional values and protect the rights of all minorities. Lastly, they advocate for a national interfaith dialogue to reaffirm India’s commitment to secularism and unity.

The signatories warned that if this unchecked polarization continues, it could severely undermine India’s democratic progress. The country’s long-standing pluralistic heritage must be safeguarded, they insisted, as it is essential not only to national stability but also to its future as a just and inclusive society.

This letter is a stark reminder that India’s founding principles are under threat. Secularism, pluralism, and democracy are being tested like never before, and the failure to act may spell the decline of a nation that once prided itself on its diversity and inclusivity.