In India, the far-right Hindu nationalist movement, supported by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has intensified efforts to drive Muslims out of areas they consider Hindu “holy land.” This campaign has instilled fear and uncertainty in India’s Muslim population, which numbers over 220 million. The situation is particularly dire in Uttarakhand, a state in northern India known for its Hindu shrines and the sacred headwaters of the Ganges river.
The tension escalated in May 2023 in the town of Purola, Uttarakhand, where Muslim residents faced violent expulsions by extremist Hindu groups. Mohammad Salim, a local shopkeeper, recalls the harrowing experience of being forced from his home under threat of death. His shop was looted, and he now lives with his family in Haridwar, struggling to rebuild his life.
Rakesh Tomar, a Hindu nationalist activist from Dehradun, has been vocal in his support for these expulsions. He views Uttarakhand as a Hindu stronghold and is vehemently opposed to any Muslim presence in the region. Tomar’s rhetoric, which includes spreading conspiracy theories about “love jihad” (the baseless claim that Muslim men are seducing Hindu women to convert them), has fueled communal tensions and violence.
These actions are part of a broader strategy by the BJP and its supporters to assert Hindu dominance and marginalize Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist rhetoric has further emboldened such extremist views, leaving the Muslim community increasingly fearful for their future in India.
Uttarakhand’s demographic data from the 2011 census shows that Muslims make up only 13% of the state’s 10 million residents. Despite being a minority, Muslims have historically lived in relative harmony with their Hindu neighbors. However, the spread of hate-filled propaganda and the rise of Hindu nationalism have disrupted this coexistence, leading to violence and forced migrations.
The ongoing strife in Uttarakhand is a microcosm of the broader challenges facing India’s secular fabric. The targeting of Muslims in the name of preserving Hindu cultural and religious identity threatens to erode the principles of pluralism and tolerance that have long underpinned Indian society.
The international community has expressed concern over these developments, urging the Indian government to protect minority rights and uphold the rule of law. However, with the BJP’s continued dominance and its alignment with nationalist ideologies, the future remains uncertain for India’s Muslim population.
