India Faces Rising Tide of Anti-Muslim Violence and Refugee Expulsions Amid BJP’s Hardline Policies
India is witnessing an alarming escalation of anti-Muslim violence and harsh treatment of refugees under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an article published on WSWS.org. Recent reports and incidents reveal a disturbing pattern of communal aggression and state-backed repression targeting Muslim minorities and refugees.
A report published by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights and the Quill Foundation documents 947 hate-related incidents from June 2024 to June 2025, including 602 hate crimes and 345 instances of hate speech. Muslims were the primary victims, with 1,460 affected in 419 incidents, including 25 killings and 173 physical assaults. Christians also faced targeted attacks, with 1,504 victims in 85 incidents. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand—states ruled by the BJP—were hotspots for these crimes. The report highlights a troubling lack of institutional efforts to record or prosecute hate crimes, with only 13% formally registered with police.
Concurrently, the BJP government has intensified a brutal campaign against impoverished Muslim refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar, including Rohingya refugees fleeing ethnic cleansing. Thousands have been forcibly expelled, often at gunpoint, without due legal process. In a shocking incident on May 8, 38 Rohingya refugees were forcibly taken from Delhi, transported to the Andaman Islands, and ordered to jump into the sea near Myanmar’s coast. Many were beaten and unable to swim, but local fishermen rescued them. This act has been condemned by UN human rights officials as a violation of international law.
India’s Supreme Court has upheld the government’s hardline stance, dismissing petitions seeking to halt the expulsions and endorsing the classification of Rohingya as “foreigners” without asylum rights. The crackdown follows a wave of communal incitement after a terrorist attack in Kashmir, with thousands of Muslims detained and homes demolished.
The brutal murder of Haji Maksood, a Muslim businessman in Madhya Pradesh, has further intensified fears among minorities. Locals accuse right-wing groups and criticize police for failing to protect victims or ensure justice. This pattern of state-sanctioned violence and discrimination fuels communal divisions, undermines democratic rights, and threatens India’s social fabric. Human rights advocates warn that without accountability and systemic reform, these abuses will deepen communal hatred and instability.
