India: Rising Violence and Harassment of Minorities
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third term in June 2024 after an election campaign marked by discrimination, hostility, and violence against Muslims and other minorities, according to Human Rights Watch in its World Report 2025. The report also highlighted the government's increasing efforts to suppress dissent internationally, including canceling visas of critics and targeting separatist leaders for assassination abroad.
The 35th edition of the 546-page report reviewed human rights practices in over 100 countries. Executive Director Tirana Hassan, in her introductory essay, noted widespread governmental crackdowns in 2024, with political opponents, activists, and journalists wrongfully detained, civilians unlawfully killed, and humanitarian aid obstructed. In more than 70 national elections that year, authoritarian leaders expanded their influence through discriminatory policies and rhetoric.
“Prime Minister Modi often touts India’s democratic heritage, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal his government’s escalating suppression of minorities and critics,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “A decade of discriminatory policies and repression has eroded the rule of law and curtailed the economic and social rights of marginalized communities.”
Ethnic violence in Manipur’s northeastern state has claimed over 250 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people since May 2023. In September 2024, clashes between armed groups from the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo community and the mostly Hindu Meitei community reportedly left at least 11 dead.
Indian authorities have exploited laws such as the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as well as fabricated financial investigations, to suppress civil society organizations and activists.
The rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in a government hospital in Kolkata in August sparked widespread protests, underscoring the persistent risks of violence and abuse faced by Indian women in the workplace and the significant barriers to justice for victims of sexual violence.
India faced accusations from Canada, the United States, and Pakistan of using intelligence agencies to target terrorism suspects and separatist leaders for assassination. In October 2024, Canada’s national police alleged Indian state agents engaged in criminal activities on Canadian soil. The Indian government responded by revoking visa privileges for foreign journalists and critics of Indian origin living abroad.
Human Rights Watch called on Indian authorities to dismantle discriminatory policies targeting Muslims, Christians, and other religious minorities. It urged the government to ensure justice for victims, cease harassment of civil society organizations, investigate ethnic violence and security force abuses in Manipur, and collaborate with community leaders to restore security.
