The political climate in India is currently marked by a rise in Islamophobic rhetoric during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign, raising concerns among the country’s Muslim community. While the number of voters in the elections appears to be down slightly from previous ones, Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appear to have adopted a more negative campaign approach, without encountering any real opposition from civil society or electoral authorities.
If BJP supporters have often been accused in the past of using inflammatory rhetoric against Muslims in India, it seems that Modi himself has taken a new step during this election campaign. Speeches that stigmatize Muslims and portray them as an existential threat to Hindus have become an integral part of the Prime Minister’s interventions, thus sowing disquiet within the country’s Muslim community.
Modi’s remarks describing Muslims as “infiltrators” and accusing them, without proof, of wanting to appropriate the country’s wealth, or of participating in a so-called “vote jihad” orchestrated by the opposition, have aroused strong criticism. reactions. Many observers point out that this communal rhetoric, which was sometimes hidden, has become more direct and blatant, highlighting the BJP’s desire to consolidate the Hindu vote to guarantee its parliamentary majority.
In an India where the youth unemployment rate is close to 50% and where inequalities are widening, Modi’s strategy of appealing to an exacerbated Hindu nationalism raises questions about his real desire to respond to the country’s social and economic challenges. . With the BJP aiming for a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, falling voter turnout and a resurgence of the opposition could well challenge the current political dominance.
The political situation in India is therefore marked by growing tensions, fueled by discriminatory and communal discourse, which further divides society rather than promoting unity and prosperity for all. It is essential to remain vigilant in the face of such abuses and to give voice to an inclusive and respectful vision of India’s cultural and religious diversity, thus guaranteeing a harmonious future for all its citizens.