In case you thought vilifying immigrants and religious minorities was strictly a Western phenomenon, Indian PM Narendra Modi used his Independence Day Speech a couple of weeks ago to announce a "high-powered demography mission" because, "when demographic change takes place - especially in border regions - it creates a threat to national security." He was specifically targeting Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants, most of whom are Muslim.
That said, I'm hardly any kind of expert on Hindutva generally or any of the parties that advocate for it specifically. It's been on my radar for years, but I've never really found a point of entry for reading up on it. If there's a book or two that folks could recommend, I'd be grateful to hear it.
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From the article:
Why the government is subjecting some of its most vulnerable citizens to fear and displacement became clear on Independence Day, when the prime minister – without uttering the “M” word –announced the launch of a “high-power demography mission,” making what was unofficial, official.
“Today, I wish to warn the nation of a grave concern and challenge,” said Narendra Modi. “As part of a deliberate conspiracy, the demography of the country is being altered. Seeds of a new crisis are being sown. These infiltrators are snatching away the livelihoods of our youth. These infiltrators are targeting our sisters and daughters. This will not be tolerated.” And so on.
Modi offered no details on how the mission would work. But trace the arc from past events to unfolding developments, add in the disparate actions already underway against suspected “infiltrators” and a clearer, if unsettling, picture emerges.
http://www.scroll.in/article/1085738/in-modis-india-citizenship-is-a-test-you-may-never-pass
#Modi #India #Hindutva #BJP #RSS #Islamophobia