Hindu nationalism ‘eroding’ secular fabric

Washington, September 14

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Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in India in recent decades, “eroding” its secular nature, a US Congressional report has claimed, as it warned that social media platforms provide “both tacit and overt sanction” for rising incidents of “majoritarian violence” in the country.

In its report, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) — an independent and bi-partisan research wing of US Congress — mentioned specific areas of alleged religiously-motivated repression and violence, including state-level anti-conversion laws, cow protection vigilantism and perceived assaults on freedom of expression and operations by non-governmental organisations that are seen as harmful to India’s secular traditions.

The CRS reports are neither an official report of the US Congress nor reflect the view of Congressmen. They are prepared by independent experts for the lawmakers to take informed decisions.

The report — “India: Religious Freedom issues” — said: “Religious freedom is explicitly protected under its Constitution. Hindus account for a vast majority (nearly four-fifths) of the country’s populace. Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in recent decades, by many accounts eroding India’s secular nature and leading to new assaults on the country’s religious freedom.”

It said the 2014 poll victory of the BJP brought newly-acute attention to the issue of religious freedom in India. — PTI

US Report prepared before 2+2 talks

• The report by Congressional Research Service, a wing of US Congress, was prepared ahead of the September 6 2+2 talks
• It points to alleged religiously-motivated repression and violence, including anti-conversion laws, cow vigilantism and assaults on freedom of expression
• It also warns that social media platforms provide ‘both tacit and overt sanction’ for rising incidents of ‘majoritarian violence’