Nationalist Surge Divides India: New York Times

Since his ascension to power five years ago, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have championed Hindu nationalism despite the country’s long history of secularism. In the same election that brought the BJP into power, India’s Muslim minority, which makes up 15 percent of the total population, received record low representation in Parliament. During Modi’s tenure, India has rewritten history textbooks to erase periods of Muslim rulers and contested holy sites, among other policies that aggressively promote Hindu interests: "Many Indians complain that Mr. Modi and his party have created a poisonous atmosphere that has dehumanized minorities and inspired the violence," explains the New York Times. Elected on a platform that promised economic prosperity, Modi achieved moderate success in this policy area. But as rising unemployment and other economic challenges emerge, his administration embraced nationalism as a way to divert attention and court popular support ahead of the election. Though Modi has so far stayed away from provocative rhetoric, Hindu nationalism has created a mob mentality that spurs lynchings and other violence. – YaleGlobal