IAMC Weekly India Human Rights Monitor (October 24, 2025)
This Week at a Glance
This week, a report by Aid to the Church in Need warned that Hindu nationalist policies under the BJP are eroding constitutional protections, with 834 attacks on Christians recorded in 2024 alone. Prime Minister Modi and Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pushkar Singh Dhami linked religious festivals to anti-Muslim rhetoric, boasting of demolitions, sealing madrasas, and deporting “Bangladeshis.” Communal boycotts marred Diwali celebrations in Chhattisgarh, while Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh faced brutal caste-based assaults. Across states, anti-minority hate speech and selective demolitions continued unchecked, as BJP leaders openly incited discrimination and violence. On the US front, IAMC and our coalition partners announced a two-part webinar series on tackling anti-Indian racism as well as addressing internal divisions created by Hindu supremacy. We also expressed grave concern over New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s decision to share a stage with Devkinandan Thakur, a Hindu supremacist monk notorious for spreading hate and inciting violence against India’s religious minorities.
Top Stories
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BJP’s Hindu nationalist policies have eroded constitutional protections: Report
The international organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) noted in its Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025 published that “Hindu nationalist policies under the Bharatiya Janata Party have steadily eroded constitutional protections” in India, with “Christians suffering 834 attacks in 2024 alone.” The report has warned that religious freedom across Asia has deteriorated sharply amid intensifying authoritarian control, ethno-religious nationalism, and extremist violence.
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Modi, BJP leaders continue anti-Muslim hate speech and discrimination
Diwali was marked by a number of cases of BJP leaders making anti-Muslim hate speeches. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the deportation of Bangladeshi nationals from the state by saying, “Diwali is really the time when the good defeats the evil.” At another event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Diwali greetings while linking the festival to India’s “Operation Sindoor” and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, BJP lawmaker Medha Kulkarni led a “purification” ceremony in Pune after Muslim women prayed at a heritage site.
Hindu extremists in Chhattisgarh target Muslim traders during Diwali
Diwali celebrations in Durg, Chhattisgarh, were overshadowed this year by a disturbing display of communal hostility. Hindu extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal organised a rally under the banner “Our Festival, Our Business,” during which they urged Hindus to boycott Muslim-owned shops.
BJP Minister Boasts About Demolishing Muslim-Owned Structures, Sealing 250 Madrasas
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami referred to Muslims as “land jihadis” in a speech, during which he boasted about shutting down Muslim-owned schools and demolishing other Muslim-owned properties. Dhami said, “More than 9,000 acres of land has been freed from ‘land jihadis’, 250 illegal madrasas have been sealed, and over 500 illegal structures have been demolished. The work is still continuing.”
Dalits Humiliated, Assaulted by Upper-Caste Men in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur, a Dalit youth was assaulted and forced to lick the shoes of a group of upper-caste men, who later beat him so badly that one of his hands was fractured. Near Lucknow, a 65-year-old Dalit man was forced to drink his own urine and assaulted inside a temple. In Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind, a Dalit driver was abducted, beaten, forced to drink liquor, and compelled to consume urine before being dumped on the roadside in a semi-conscious condition, by three upper-caste men.
Hate crimes and discrimination in India
This week, in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district, authorities demolished the home of Muslim village head Sadiq Ahmed, prompting residents to allege selective targeting. Senior BJP leaders continued to fan anti-Muslim sentiment, with Union Minister Giriraj Singh calling Muslims “betrayers” whose votes he did not want, and former MP Pragya Thakur urging parents to “break the legs” of daughters visiting non-Hindu homes. In Gorakhpur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath denounced Halal certification as “an attack on Sanatan Dharma,” claiming it funds terrorism and conversions, while police in Bareilly arrested three people, including a pastor, over baseless accusations of forced conversions. Meanwhile, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma drew outrage for mocking Gaza’s suffering, and Bajrang Dal members raided a meat shop in Maharashtra’s Akola, claiming beef sales.
Resistance & Organizing
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Karnataka Cabinet Moves to Regulate RSS Activities in Public and Government Spaces
Karnataka’s Congress government has decided to frame rules to regulate activities of private organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in public places and government premises, potentially making it the first state to take such a step. The cabinet’s move comes amid ongoing concerns that RSS shakhas influence children and youth with “negative ideas,” according to Minister Priyank Kharge.
Allahabad Court Orders Immediate Release of Interfaith Couple Shane Ali and Rashmi
The Allahabad High Court ordered the immediate release of an interfaith couple, criticizing the Uttar Pradesh Police for their “illegal detention” without any lawful direction. The judges said that the police had no authority to detain the girl, and that the act violated her constitutional rights. The couple, Shane Ali and Rashmi, had been taken into custody after leaving the court premises on October 15.
Supreme Court Grants Relief to 400-Year-Old Mancha Masjid
The Supreme Court granted relief in the case concerning the 400-year-old Mancha Masjid in Ahmedabad, disposing of the special leave petition challenging its partial demolition. The Court said that the main structure of the mosque will not be demolished. Only a small open area and platform which includes a staircase, plants, and the outer wall, will be acquired for the development project.
Defender of the Week
This week, we’re spotlighting the brave Muslim men, women, and children who are defying the Indian government’s crackdown on one of the most basic expressions of the Islamic faith – saying “I Love Muhammad.” Muslims across India have been arrested or booked for taking part in this campaign to defend their right to profess their beliefs publicly.
Voices from the Ground
“Police are registering cases against Muslims across the nation to suppress their legitimate protests … The BJP government wants to instill fear so Muslims lose the courage to speak for their religious and fundamental rights.”
– Sumaiya Rana, daughter of renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana
IAMC in Action
- IAMC is proud to join our coalition partners at Savera for a two-part webinar series addressing the rise of anti-Indian racism, as well as the urgent need for bridge-building in a diaspora that has long been under attack from Hindu supremacists. Our first webinar will be on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:00 pm EST; our second will be on Tuesday, November 11, at 7:00 pm EST. You can register for both events here.
- IAMC has expressed our alarm over New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s decision to share a stage with Devkinandan Thakur, a Hindu supremacist monk notorious for spreading hate and inciting violence against India’s religious minorities. You can read our full statement here.
