Washington, D.C, At the International Religious Freedom Summit 2024, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, a prominent Indian journalist, voiced concerns over the rise of Hindutva, or Hindu supremacy, labeling it as the most significant threat to secularism and religious freedom in India since the assassination of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Sherwani, Senior Editor at The Wire, during her address at the summit organized by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) in Washington, directly linked the current ruling ideology in India with the forces responsible for Gandhi’s assassination. She challenged the narrative that reduces anti-Muslim violence in India to mere communal clashes, instead framing it as systematic state persecution of Indian Muslims. Sherwani expressed fears of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration moving towards formalizing second-class citizenship for Muslims and altering the constitution fundamentally.

Nadine Maenza, President of the IRF Secretariat and former Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), highlighted the coordinated efforts of Hindu nationalists and the BJP government in targeting religious and ethnic minorities. She cited increasing incidents of hate speech, discriminatory policies, and violent attacks against these communities.

Sukhman Dhami, Co-Founder of Ensaaf, underscored the entrenched culture of impunity in India, which has led to persistent persecution and human rights violations. Dhami also raised concerns about the Indian government’s alleged international assassination orders, suggesting a boldness born from domestic impunity.

Siju Thomas, Director of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International India, reported a sharp increase in hate crimes against Christians, with incidents of mob violence nearing 700 in the past year alone. This marked rise in violence underscores a broader pattern of intolerance and aggression towards minorities.

Father Christu Rajan from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore warned of continuous attacks on the Indian constitution, suggesting that the secular nature of India is at risk. He relayed fears within minority communities of losing voting rights under a new constitution.

Ajit Sahi, Advocacy Director at IAMC, criticized the lack of action against Hindu majoritarian extremists who attack religious minorities and their places of worship, forcing them to chant Hindu slogans.

Bina Nepram, Founder of the Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace, called for a nation-building process based on love rather than violence, highlighting the weaponization of identity, religion, and politics in the current climate.

The summit in Washington brought together voices from across the globe to shed light on the escalating threats to religious freedom in India, urging immediate international attention and action.