International scrutiny of India's human rights situation and the rising influence of Hindutva has intensified over the past fortnight, with voices from around the globe offering a critical examination of the state of democracy in India.
On July 15, Zeteo, US, published a searing critique by Fatima Bhutto, who condemned the opulent $600 million wedding of Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest man. Bhutto described the event as “shameless” and symbolic of the “hideous wealth” disparity in one of the world’s most unequal nations. She accused the Ambanis of personifying the “dark confluence of money and right-wing Hindu extremism” that has flourished under Narendra Modi’s regime. The wedding’s endorsement by RSS head Mohan Bhagwat further underscored the intertwining of wealth and religious nationalism.
In the UK/India, Vittles Magazine’s Sara Ather highlighted the pervasive housing discrimination faced by Indian Muslims. Ather detailed how food preferences are used as a pretext for discrimination, leading to systematic ghettoization and increased economic burdens for Muslims. She argued that while such exclusionary practices are not new, they have become more mainstream under the current far-right Hindu nationalist regime.
The Financial Times’ Benjamin Parkins examined the Narendra Modi government’s increasing control over foreign tech companies, noting that despite India’s efforts to develop its own tech start-ups, such as Koo, it has not succeeded in challenging US social media giants. Udbhav Tiwari from Mozilla criticized Modi’s policies as an attempt to create a “fourth path” for internet regulation, suggesting that they may erode checks and balances and resemble China’s model more than democratic norms.
The Washington Post reviewed Zara Chowdhary’s memoir, The Lucky Ones, on July 17. Bilal Qureshi described the book as a poignant recount of the Gujarat 2002 communal violence and a critique of Modi’s India, highlighting Chowdhary’s reflections on her family’s harrowing experiences and her reclamation of a secular India.
NZZ, Switzerland, also on July 17, featured Andreas Babst’s profile of Arnab Goswami, a controversial Indian journalist known for his bombastic style and alignment with Modi’s government. Babst depicted Goswami as a polarizing figure whose nationalist rhetoric contributes to the exclusionary nature of current Indian nationalism.
Religion News, US, reported on July 19 that Ram Madhav, a prominent RSS leader, spoke at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington, D.C., where he reportedly downplayed the violent aspects of Hindu nationalism. Rasheed Ahmed from the Indian American Muslim Council condemned Madhav’s whitewashing of the movement and warned against the growing alliance between the American and Indian right-wing factions.
World Politics Review’s Paul Poast also on July 19, assessed India’s global standing, suggesting that despite its growing economy, India is unlikely to transition into a high-income country due to internal conflicts and the influence of the BJP. He characterized India as a “sleeping giant” with uncertain prospects for becoming a major global power.
On July 28, Nikkei Asia’s Charukesi Ramadurai addressed the threats faced by Indian stand-up comedians, who often face harassment and threats for their critical views on the government. This climate of fear, exacerbated by gender and religious identities, underscores the broader issue of freedom of expression in India.
Experts weigh in
Amnesty International on July 16 reported that the BJP-led central government and the Manipur state government have failed to address the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has continued for over 400 days. The report criticized both governments for their inaction and the worsening conditions faced by displaced communities.
A research article published on July 19 highlighted a dramatic decline in life expectancy in India due to COVID-19. The study revealed that mortality rates increased across all age groups, with excess deaths estimated to be significantly higher than official figures. It underscored the exacerbation of health disparities among women, marginalized castes, and children.
Marxism Today’s July 20 interview with Professor GN Saibaba, a human rights activist imprisoned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, reflected on the global nature of struggles for justice, linking the plight of Palestinians with broader issues of oppression worldwide.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation released its 2024 report, revealing that India has the highest number of undernourished people globally. The report highlighted severe malnutrition and anaemia rates, pointing to systemic failures in addressing food security and nutrition.
The UN Human Rights Committee’s findings, released on July 25, criticized India’s long-standing use of counter-terrorism legislation to justify human rights violations, particularly in “disturbed areas.” The Committee urged India to enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and ensure that counter-terrorism measures are subject to judicial oversight.
A collaborative submission by several organizations to the UN Human Rights Committee highlighted human rights abuses against Adivasis in Chhattisgarh, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests, explicitly addressed in the Committee’s findings.
Civil society and diaspora responses
SACRED, a South Asian American coalition, announced on July 13 in Chicago that South Asian American elected officials have pledged to reject political support from far-right Hindu supremacist groups. The pledge, supported by Tushar Gandhi, aims to combat extremist influences in U.S. politics and was endorsed by prominent figures such as Pramila Jayapal and Senator Villivalam.
The South Asia Solidarity group in the UK, on July 21, launched a series of webinars to investigate the influence of Indian businessman Gautam Adani. The discussion focused on Adani’s vast economic empire and his close ties with the Modi government, highlighting concerns about the consolidation of wealth and political power.
12Ummah, a diaspora advocacy initiative, released a video comparing a recent directive by the Uttar Pradesh government to label businesses along pilgrimage routes with Nazi-era anti-Semitic campaigns. The video criticized the move as a tool for religious discrimination and economic exclusion.
The Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia (PATCA) held its inaugural event on July 28, focusing on caste discrimination and its inclusion in anti-racism legislation. The event highlighted efforts to create a caste discrimination register and advocated for greater representation and awareness of caste issues.
These reports and discussions paint a comprehensive picture of the ongoing challenges faced by India’s democracy, from rising Hindutva influence and human rights abuses to issues of economic disparity and freedom of expression. The international and civil society responses reflect a growing concern about the trajectory of India's political and social landscape.
This is based on an analytical report published in The Wire