WASHINGTON: A detailed report published by The Wall Street Journal has raised serious concerns about the state of democracy, secularism, and minority rights in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, describing the current political trajectory as increasingly majoritarian and exclusionary.
According to the report, religious minoritiesparticularly Muslims and Christians are facing worsening conditions across India. While Christians make up only about 2.3% of the population, they have increasingly become targets of violence linked to Hindutva-aligned extremist groups
Key Findings Highlighted in the Report:
The Wall Street Journal characterizes the BJP-led government as promoting a
Hindutva-driven agenda that has become a source of international embarrassment for India.
The report questions India’s democratic credentials, stating that the country is shifting from a “full-fledged democracy” toward a majoritarian state.
It alleges that the Modi government functions largely as a representative of the Hindu majority, while minorities face
systematic religious and ethnic discrimination.
Violence against religious minorities has reportedly increased significantly since Modi took office in 2014.
Situation of Muslims and Christians:Muslims reportedly face discrimination in housing, employment, education, and voting rights since 2014.
Christian communities have also come under increasing attack. According to the United Christian Forum, incidents against Christians rose from 139 in 2014 to 834 in 2024.
In 2025 alone, up to November, at least 706 anti-Christian incidents were recorded across India.
Christmas 2025 as a Flashpoint:
The report describes Christmas 2025 as a national flashpoint for religious extremism.
Incidents included attacks on churches, disruption of prayers, vandalism of Christmas decorations, and destruction of Santa Claus statues.
YeIn Uttar Pradesh, mobs reportedly gathered outside churches chanting slogans such as “Death to Christian missionaries.”
In Madhya Pradesh, a BJP-linked leader allegedly led an attack on a church, during which a blind woman was assaulted. In Chhattisgarh, Christmas decorations in shopping malls were vandalized.
Government Response and Criticism
The report notes Prime Minister Modi’s silence on attacks against Christians, despite symbolic gestures such as visiting churches.This silence is described as a clear signal to extremist Hindu elements, effectively enabling further violence.
Anti-conversion laws, police inaction, and state-level policies are said to provide de facto protection to perpetrators of religious violence. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be designated a “Country of Particular Concern.”
Broader Reactions:
Indian human rights organizations state that Christmas attacks were organized and
violent.
Political analysts warn that India is becoming diplomatically isolated due to its treatment of minorities.
Religious leaders and observers argue that secularism in India now exists only as a slogan, having effectively collapsed in practice.
The Wall Street Journal concludes that fear has become a defining aspect of minority identity in India, and that religious violence is increasingly being normalized during the Modi era, raising serious concerns for India’s democratic and secular foundations.
