The Hindutva ideology in India has marginalized diverse communities, impacting regions like Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Indian Punjab. In the lead-up to elections, BJP leaders' anti-Muslim hate speeches, featuring divisive rhetoric and conspiracy theories, aim to polarize voters and gain support, particularly focusing on issues like forced religious conversions, Love Jihad, demolition of Hindu structures, and Rohingya migration.

Since the 2014 general elections in India, the ideology of Hindutva has not only deeply permeated the social, political, and economic fabric, elevating Hindu nationalism above Indian nationalism, but it has also exposed the inherent fault line of India, rooted in ethnic inequality, oppression, and the marginalization of minority citizens, especially Muslims. This internal fault line now poses a significant threat to the identity and rights of minority communities.
Political Instability in India
As India approaches its 2024 General Elections, the internal discord sets the stage for an alarming anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan rhetoric, historically employed by the BJP government for electoral gains. The strategic use of events like the Pulwama attack in 2019 has heightened regional tensions, with concerns of a potential false-flag operation surfacing as the 2024 elections approach. The BJP's reliance on Hindutva ideology and divisive narratives not only jeopardizes minority rights, notably those of the Muslim population but also raises concerns about regional stability.
There are many hidden facts behind the Pulwama attack, which shows that the BJP administration staged the attack to gain the vote bank for the second tenure of Prime Minister Modi, for whom populist manifesto of "anti-Muslim" benefitted a lot in getting more votes in 2019 Indian elections than the 2014 elections. This populist manifesto was reflected in the election campaign, and right after the Pulwama attack, communal violence against Muslims spread all over India.¹
In the Pulwama attack, there were no casualties of Upper Hindu castes such as Brahmin. The Indian soldiers who were killed included 19 from lower castes, 7 from scheduled castes, three Jat Sikhs and one Muslim. This ratio reflects that the BJP government only staged this to gain a popular vote in the 2019 elections and to avoid major opposition from the government officials and opposition leaders who belonged to upper castes.² According to Indian National Congress (INC) leader Udit Raj, “power-hungry Narendra Modi had planned the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019, just weeks before the Indian parliamentary elections, which strengthened his grip on the country.”³
The fake cloak of secularism, as projected by Modi in his election manifesto of 2014, was a big lie and has only resulted in promoting Hindu nationalism in his two tenures. The existing sociopolitical instability and repression against Indian minorities may push India into the ditch of its union disintegration, from which it will never recover again.

Nagaland declared independence in 1951 under a free and fair referendum, but the Indian government forcefully turned down the decision.

Ongoing Separatist Movements in India

Due to religious and ethnic composition in India, multiple communities have different ideological beliefs and religious practices. With time, the Hindutva ideology has marginalized several communities, e.g., Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Indian Punjab. 
Nagaland Movement
The Nagaland declared its independence on August 14, 1947, but later, they were forcefully integrated into the Republic of India. The policies through which India controlled Nagaland in the beginning proved discriminatory for the state as the territory was recognized as excluded under the 6th Schedule of the Indian constitution, based on which Nagaland was also exempted from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) under the BJP government.⁴ Moreover, Nagaland declared independence in 1951 under a free and fair referendum, but the Indian government forcefully turned down the decision.
Under the BJP government, no success has been achieved to cool down the separatist sentiments in Nagaland. In 2019, Prime Minister Modi failed to negotiate with the governor of Nagaland, R. N. Ravi, to end the separatist movement. The movement has become deeply rooted to such an extent that the Naga Student Federation (NSF) declared independence on August 14, 2019, which was turned down by the BJP government. The BJP government continues to ignore the demands of the Naga people, which include supporting Naga people in all domains of human life, giving them complete political autonomy, creating an independent Naga judiciary system, and unifying Naga people living in Burma and Nagaland under one territory. 
As India heads toward the 2024 elections, the resolution of the Nagaland conflict faces a setback due to the removal of interlocutor R. N. Ravi, who has taken charge as Governor of Tamil Nadu.⁵ Z. Lohe, a former Nagaland Assembly Speaker, holds the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP government, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, responsible for hindering progress. Ravi's removal in 2021 disrupted the peace talks, as no successor was appointed. This situation left negotiators reliant on emissary A. K. Mishra, who lacked political authority. The talks, once promising, have stalled since 2019, primarily over disagreements on the Naga flag and a separate constitution, issues rejected by the BJP government.⁶
Manipur Movement
Under the BJP government in 2019, the Manipur state of India announced the decision of declaring itself independent.⁷ The people of Manipur have faced extensive military violence at the hands of Indian forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).⁸ Like IIOJK, Manipur state faced frequent strikes from Indian forces, internet shutdown, and lack of government attention to address the socioeconomic problems of different ethnicities of Manipur, e.g., the Naga, Pangal, Kuki, and Meitei, the ethnic groups for whom maintaining their cultural autonomy is sacred.
The conflict, ongoing since May 3, has resulted in significant casualties. Despite deploying a massive security force, the Modi government has struggled to regain control. The toll includes over a thousand lives lost, the displacement of over a hundred thousand people, and the widespread destruction of homes.⁹ Chief Minister N. Biren Singh deems the situation extremely critical while accusing Modi of having political motivations for abandoning Manipur.¹⁰ The Kukis, primarily Christian, fear losing benefits to the predominantly Hindu Meiteis. The Manipur conflict resulted in the burning of over 1,700 buildings and reports of widespread looting and violence. The situation, marked by curfews and military patrols, remains tense.
The affected communities express a loss of faith in the  state government's ability to protect them, with some tribal legislators seeking a separate administration from the Indian government.¹¹
Modi orchestrated the disturbances in Manipur for political purposes, said the former IIOJK Governor, Satya Pal Malik. In an interview conducted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Satya Pal Malik highlighted that the Manipur situation is a political failure of the Modi government, pointing out issues with the Chief Minister and disruption in the previously settled North East region. Malik criticized the Modi government, attributing the 2019 Pulwama attack to lapses on the government's part and for using the incident for political gains during elections. He claimed that the government failed to provide the requested aircraft, leading to the tragic incident.¹²
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) of Manipur's Kuki-Zo tribes issued an ultimatum, threatening to establish a self-government in their areas if the Modi government failed to address their demand for separate administration. ITLF asserts its determination to proceed with the self-government plan regardless of recognition from the central government, citing a lack of progress on their request for over six months.¹³
The tribes of Manipur held a protest rally against the Modi government and the Hindu Meiteis. "We have repeatedly requested the Modi government to control the situation, but no heed has been paid," say protesters.
Like Nagaland and Manipur, northeast India is involved in separatist movements, especially the states recognized as "Seven Sister States," as shown in the above figure with encircled dots. In addition to Manipur and Nagaland, these states include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.
Khalistan Movement
The state of Indian Punjab is historically significant for its Sikh community. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and the last Sikh Guru, emphasized that the region was a gift from God for Sikhs to exercise their religious and political rights. In the late twentieth century, Sikhs sought autonomy to practice their religion and culture. Over time, the Sikh community felt neglected by Congress for not fulfilling promises, including the establishment of an autonomous homeland, separate identity, and fair wealth distribution for agricultural development. Indian Punjab is currently divided into Punjab and Haryana, with Chandigarh as a union territory. The demand for Khalistan arose from the 1973 Anandpur Sahib resolution, seeking a separate state if certain objectives were not met, including the mandatory practice of Sikhism, maintaining Sikh nationalism, and addressing social inequalities and caste-based discrimination in line with Sikh teachings.¹⁴
The Khalistan Movement became a symbol of Sikh nationalism in the Indian Punjab. Under the Modi government, due to the rise of farmer protest movements, mainly in Indian Punjab (Sikh dominant region), the Khalistan Movement is once again on the rise. On December 10, 2021, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organization stood up for a non-binding Khalistan referendum in Geneva. Around 6000 Sikhs were gathered to vote for the Khalistan Referendum despite a snowstorm.¹⁵
The recent events involving individuals associated with the Khalistan Movement have significantly strained relations between Canada and India. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an advocate for a Sikh homeland, was shot dead in Surrey, Canada, three years after being designated a "terrorist" by India. Avtar Singh Khanda, the leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force, passed away in the United Kingdom (UK) under mysterious circumstances, contributing to speculation about his death.¹⁶ These incidents have fueled diplomatic tensions, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing. The assassination has prompted calls for swift action from Sikh and Muslim organizations in Canada, with concerns about protecting Sikhs and preventing Indian nationals linked to intelligence forces or human rights abuses from entering the country.¹⁷
Communal Tensions in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan: BJP Leaders Accused of Hate Speeches
Members of the BJP have been delivering anti-Muslim hate speeches in the lead-up to assembly elections in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The speeches, filled with divisive rhetoric and conspiracy theories, aim to polarize voters and gain support for the BJP. These speeches violate the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of People Act, prohibiting actions that may create mutual hatred or tension between different communities. These BJP leaders include Shatrughan Gautam, Yogi Adityanath, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Ramesh Bidhuri, Amit Shah, and Himanta Biswa Sarma.¹⁸
Amidst preparations for the 2024 general elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a prominent BJP figure, has been accused of instigating communal tensions in Chhattisgarh. The BJP's decision to field the father of Bhuvaneshvar Sahu, the victim killed during a communal flare-up, in the upcoming elections is viewed as a strategic move to exploit communal sentiments. The Congress strongly criticized Shah's remarks, labeling them an attempt to communalize the elections and create unrest.¹⁹ The unrest highlights a growing trend of communal tensions in the state.
Ladakh Elections: Strong Rejection of BJP and Article 370
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council Elections in Kargil saw a rejection of the BJP and dissatisfaction with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. The National Conference and Congress secured a landslide victory, reflecting a desire to restore democratic rights and autonomy. The election saw a high turnout of 78 percent, indicating people's eagerness to express their stance, especially against the BJP's administration, which had garnered criticism for its control over the region in the past four years. The National Conference views the outcome as a message against Article 370's revocation and state reorganization without the people's consent. 
The BJP's pursuit of a Hindu nationalist agenda and Modi's policies have been accused of exacerbating intercommunal tensions. The narrative of India as a Hindu state is gaining traction, with instances of hate rallies, attacks, and divisive rhetoric targeting Muslims. The interview with Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), provides insights into the concept of "mainstreaming hate" and specific policies contributing to the marginalization of religious minorities.²⁰ Roth emphasizes the need to protect civil society, counter hate speech, and uphold universal human rights to promote religious pluralism and coexistence.
In light of these issues, fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society is imperative for India's future, although concerns persist regarding the likelihood of such changes under the Modi government's policies since 2014.

The author is a member of the staff.
E-mail: [email protected]

1.     "'Why Do I Fear to Go Out in My Own Country?' In Modi’s India, Rising Unease among Muslims.,” Washington Post, accessed November 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-modis-india-shrinking-space-for-muslims/2019/05/12/7e6e47e2-5bb1-11e9-98d4-844088d135f2_story.html.
2.     Ajaz Ashraf, “Urban Upper-Castes Driving Hindutva Nationalism Have Little Representation among Pulwama’s Slain Jawans,” The Caravan, accessed November 17, 2023, https://caravanmagazine.in/caste/urban-upper-castes-driving-hindutva-nationalism-little-representation-pulwama-jawans.
3.     “Congress Leader Udit Raj Claims PM Narendra Modi Planned Pulwama Terror Attack,” BaaghiTV English (blog), January 8, 2022, https://en.baaghitv.com/congress-leader-udit-raj-claims-pm-narendra-modi-planned-pulwama-terror-attack/.
4.     “What is 6th Schedule & why it allows parts of Northeast to be exempt from Citizenship Bill,” accessed November 19, 2023, https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/what-is-6th-schedule-why-it-allows-parts-of-northeast-to-be-exempt-from-citizenship-bill/331404/.
5.     Correspondent, Special. 2021. “R.N. Ravi Resigns as Naga Interlocutor.” The Hindu, September 22, 2021, sec. India. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rn-ravi-resigns-as-naga-interlocutor/article36616105.ece. 
6.     “Those Responsible for Removal of RN Ravi to Be Blamed for Naga Solution by Nirendra Dev.” n.d. E-Pao.net. Accessed November 19, 2023. http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Naga_Peace_Process_Indo-Naga_Talks_2012. Those_responsible_for_removal_of_RN_Ravi_to_be_blamed_for_Naga_Solution_By_Nirendra_Dev. 
7.     “Indian Manipur Separatists Announce Exiled Government in UK | News | Al Jazeera,” accessed November 19, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/29/indian-manipur-separatists-announce-exiled-government-in-uk/.
8.  “The Most Violent State—Manipur,” The Nation, March 21, 2021, https://nation.com.pk/21-Mar-2021/the-most-violent-state-manipur.
9.   Manipur crisis deepens: more than a thousand lives lost amid ongoing conflict. SAMAA TV. Accessed November 19, 2023. https://www.google.com/url?esrc=s&q=&rct=j&sa=U&url=https://www.samaa.tv/208733840-manipur-crisis-deepens-more-than-thousand-lives-lost-amid-ongoing-conflict&ved=2ahUKEwjZqO-Y09CCAxU5XaQEHRa3ARgQFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw3x1IF9KemEtYE-NS-e9gNH. 
10.   “‘PM Narendra Modi Abandoned Manipur’: Jairam Ramesh Raises N Biren Singh Query on Violence.” 2023. Hindustan Times. October 24, 2023. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-abandoned-manipur-jairam-ramesh-raises-n-biren-singh-query-101698156350999.html. 
11.   Ibid.
12.   Biswas, Sayantani. 2023. “‘NE Inhone Disturb Kar Diya’: Rahul Gandhi Interviews Satya Pal Malik.” Mint. October 25, 2023. https://www.livemint.com/politics/pm-modi-govt-failed-on-msp-because-of-adani-10-highlights-from-rahul-gandhis-interview-with-satya-pal-malik-11698223525414.html. 
13.   The Times of India. 2023. “Manipur Tribal Group Gives ‘Self-Rule’ Ultimatum to Govt,” November 16, 2023. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/itlf-threatens-self-rule-in-kuki-zo-areas-of-manipur/articleshow/105246280.cms. 
14.   “Anandpur Sahib Resolution 1973-Journals of India,” February 16, 2021, https://journalsofindia.com/anandpur-sahib-resolution-1973/.
15.   “Despite Snowstorm: Over 6,000 Sikhs in Geneva Vote for Khalistan Referendum,” accessed November 19, 2023, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/915856-despite-snowstorm-over-6-000-sikhs-in-geneva-vote-for-khalistan-referendum.
16.   Ibid.
17.   Ljunggren, David, Steve Scherer, and David Ljunggren. 2023. “Trudeau Says Canada Wants Answers from India over Slain Sikh Leader.” Reuters, September 19, 2023, sec. World. https://www.reuters.com/world/canada-pm-not-trying-provoke-india-want-answers-over-murder-2023-09-19/. 
18.   cjpadmin. 2023. “Hate Speech during Election Rallies by BJP Leaders Mar Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.” CJP. November 20, 2023. https://cjp.org.in/hate-speech-during-election-rallies-by-bjp-leaders-mar-rajasthan-and-chhattisgarh/. 
19.   Sikdar, Shubhomoy. 2023. “Amit Shah Digs up Communal Incident at Chhattisgarh Campaign Meet.” The Hindu, October 16, 2023, sec. Chhattisgarh Assembly. https://www.thehindu.com/elections/chhattisgarh-assembly/amit-shah-digs-up-communal-incident-at-chhattisgarh-campaign-meet/article67427798.ece. 
20.   "In the Shadow of Hate: Muslims in Modi's Divided India | The Express Tribune.” 2023. Tribune.com.pk. September 3, 2023. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2433939/in-the-shadow-of-hate-muslims-in-modis-divided-india.