India, which claims to be the world’s largest democracy, stands today at a crossroads where its domestic politics, the credibility of democratic institutions, the rights of religious minorities, economic inequality and global image have become interconnected and serious questions. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP has made Hindutva the fundamental reference point for acquiring political power and shaping national identity. However, the question is whether politics built on the concept of religious majority can provide lasting stability to a multi-religious and multicultural society. And is Modi’s political rise laying the foundation for its own decline under the burden of this very narrative?

India’s real strength has been its diversity, democratic institutions and the concept of coexistence among different religions and cultures. However, according to critics, Hindutva politics has placed this concept under severe pressure. Hate-filled statements against Muslims and other minorities, allegations of discrimination on the basis of religious identity and incidents such as the demolition of Muslim homes and businesses in some states have raised questions about the practical status of Indian secularism. Measures such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the removal of the special constitutional status of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are also part of this debate. Democracy is not merely the name of holding elections; rather, its real standard is determined by civil liberties, respect for opposing voices, a free press, a transparent electoral process and the equal application of the law. Concerns about democratic freedoms in India expressed by international organisations such as........

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