In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands is being viewed as a strategic triumph at the macro level, with various agreements signed; however, Indian analysts ignore the micro-level developments in The Hague. Before the arrival of the Indian Premier, Dutch Prime Minister Jetten Rob expressed concern about the alarming human rights situation in India. The Dutch Prime Minister stated that minorities in India are under severe pressure and also mentioned that these concerns are raised regularly with the Indian government. In India, the Hindu-Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power since 2014. During this tenure, the minority rights and other democratic institutional frameworks have weakened across many regions in India.
BJP is regarded as the far right political wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the rise of the far right is now regarded as a global phenomenon, and it appeals to conservatives because its tenets uphold principles that oppose liberal values and multilateralism. However, such ideology poses a grave threat in a nation like India, which has a diverse ethnic and caste profile. The reason behind such concerns is the Hindu-centric legislation and policies which marginalize Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits and other communities on racial and caste bases.
The visit triggered a new discussion, and it is no doubt a diplomatic loss for India on the global stage. Moreover, the Dutch Prime Minister’s response exposed growing international scrutiny over the Modi government’s minority policies. According to the United Christian Forum, 2,492 attacks have been reported on Christian from 2014 to 2024. 200 million Muslims– the largest minority group of India face systematic persecution, through legislation such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which facilitates fast-track citizenship of non-Muslims and explicitly excludes Muslims. In addition, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was implemented in Assam, disproportionately disenfranchising Muslims, leaving many stateless. Moreover, the Cow Protection Law has been imposed by the BJP government, which directly violates Muslims’ rights. Muslims also face economic boycott and discrimination based on religious attire and often exclusion from education, which indeed needs attention.
The religious-based discrimination is also extended to other minor groups, such as Sikhs, who make 1.7% of the Indian Population. Sikh activists across the world face threats, and in 2023, the Canadian authorities accused Indian agents of allegedly killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Hindu Dalits, who are at the bottom of the Hindu racial hierarchy, also face discrimination and mob violence, which significantly indicates the governmental push for RSS ideology. After the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, journalists, human rights activists, and many other notable figures are politically affected by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA). Over 2300 cases have been registered under the PSA, and 8000 under UAPA, and only 3% were convicted, with the rest spending years in pre-detention.
In the terrorism academic discourse, the far-right movement is now regarded as the fifth wave of terrorism. Such groups couple their illusory religious beliefs with a political agenda, which undermines rationality and could lead to large-scale violence. India was once regarded as a proponent of democracy, but now ranks 41st out of 167 countries in the world democracy index. In the human rights and freedom of expression, India ranked around 66 out of 100, indicating growing concerns about individual liberty, freedom of expression, and several other human rights. The Dutch Prime Minister’s concerns over minority rights are not mere words; they are a knock and an awakening call to the policies of the Indian government.
Such exclusionary policies erode the social fabric at home. At the same time, their impact reverberates across borders—transforming into rhetorical instruments for populist leaders, shaping political agendas, and even crystallizing into elements of foreign policy.
