Why Modi’s third term is raising global alarm over India’s democracy

There has been an influence of right-wing Hindu nationalists in the ruling party BJP’s policies that have attacked religious minorities, especially Muslims and now Christians. There has been an increase in violence against systematically oppressed communities like Dalits and Tribals that are in the lower caste hierarchy of Hinduism.

The other developments include the passage of amendments to the national citizenship law that are seen to discriminate against Muslims; vigilante attacks on Muslims selling or consuming meat in the name of beef, which is banned in most of India; and the enforcement of regulations that make marriages between Hindus and Muslims difficult. Hindus constitute about 80% of India’s population and Muslims 15%.

With the rise of Hindu majoritarian politics and the government’s willingness to trample Muslims, there has been massive censorship with activists, journalists, lawyers, and academicians facing criminal cases and jail time. Anyone who has tried to question the workings of the government has been faced with anti-terror laws, which are being massively misused, raising concerns about the freedom of speech in the country.

Any kind of dissent has also been stopped. The Hindu majority country’s politics and repression of free speech have raised global concerns; however, the government has refused to acknowledge and continues to trample any kind of dissent.

Nikita Jain is a Delhi-based journalist with almost a decade of journalism experience. She has covered important issues in India, including gender, conflict, politics, environment, and human rights, among others. Her work has been published at national and international forums. She also won the Laadli Awards in 2023 for her story. She also went to cover the 2025 Global March to Gaza in Egypt.