New group formed in the US to raise awareness about anti-Muslim policies in India

A group called India Coalition has been formed in Minnesota with the aim of raising awareness about anti-Muslim policies of the BJP-led government in India.

Formed last month, the coalition is concerned that the government’s practices and rhetoric have led to discrimination in India and the United States.

A group of diverse Indian community members met to track the troubling politics of their home country and compel Americans to help stem a growing tide of hate against South Asian Muslims.

They formed the India Coalition to promote coexistence in the Twin Cities’ Indian community and to curb bigotry spreading through the United States as a result of a form of Hindu nationalism–Hindutva–that is pitting Hindus against Muslims.

“I see a wave of hate, bigotry, and fascism taking over India,” said attendee Zafar Siddiqui, an activist and board member of several local nonprofits. “And if there is no pushback, however small that is, it’s going to consume us.”

Siddiqui started the group by bringing together a network of friends and acquaintances from a variety of faith, cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds.

The group of about 31 hopes to draw attention to political issues that have cost lives in India but have gone largely unnoticed by the general public in the United States.