India • Bharatiya Janata Party • Freedom of religion

 

India is the largest democracy in the world and home to a wide variety of cultures.

India has a long history of tolerance and peaceful coexistence thanks to its rich cultural legacy.

Nonetheless, the matter of religious freedom has been up for discussion in India for a long time, with various political parties holding opposing positions.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in charge in India since 2014, is one such party.

We shall examine the BJP's position on religious freedom in India in this blog.

Body:

The BJP was established in 1980 and is a right-wing political party in India.

The party's worldview is founded on cultural conservatism and Hindu nationalism.

The Hindutva movement, which emphasises the cultural and religious cohesion of the Hindu population, is one that the BJP supports.

Nonetheless, the party has come under fire from some areas for what they perceive to be its intolerance of other religions, especially Muslims.

The BJP's stance on freedom of religion in India is a subject of much debate. On the one hand, the party has maintained that India is a secular country and that citizens are free to practice any religion they choose. However, the party has also been accused of promoting a Hindu-centric agenda, which some argue could undermine religious freedom for minorities.

One of the most controversial moves made by the BJP in recent years was the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. The law amended India's citizenship rules to grant citizenship to illegal immigrants from three neighboring countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh – on the basis of their religion. The law grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians, but not to Muslims. This move was widely criticized by human rights groups and activists, who argued that the law was discriminatory towards Muslims.

The BJP has also faced criticism for its alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people, most of whom were Muslims. The party's leader at the time, Narendra Modi, who is now the Prime Minister of India, was accused of not doing enough to stop the violence. While Modi has denied any wrongdoing, his critics argue that the BJP's stance on religious freedom is questionable given its alleged role in the riots.

Despite these controversies, the BJP has maintained that it is committed to protecting religious freedom in India. The party has pointed out that India's constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens, and that the party is committed to upholding this principle. The BJP has also emphasized the need for a uniform civil code, which would apply the same set of laws to all citizens regardless of their religion. The party argues that a uniform civil code would help to promote unity and equality among all citizens.

Conclusion:

Freedom of religion is a fundamental right that is guaranteed by India's constitution. While the BJP has faced criticism for its stance on this issue, the party has also emphasized the need for unity and equality among all citizens. It is important for India to continue to uphold religious freedom for all citizens, regardless of their religion or beliefs. As a diverse and multicultural society, India must strive to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence among all its citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations.