Driving through the Mira Road neighbourhood of Mumbai was a regular routine for 21-year-old Mohammad Tariq, who ran errands on his father’s white loading auto carrier. However, a recent rally in the area, fueled by the consecration of a Ram temple in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, turned into a mob targeting Muslims, causing destruction and violence. Similar rallies took place across multiple states, with tensions escalating and religious minorities facing increased discrimination.
While the temple inauguration was hailed as a momentous occasion by Modi, critics argue that it was a political move, linking the Prime Minister to Hinduism and disregarding the secular values enshrined in the Indian constitution. The celebration of the temple’s construction has also raised concerns about the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, causing the country to slip in international democracy indices.
Despite the apparent political gains for Modi and the BJP, many fear that the construction of the temple will only embolden violent forces within the Hindu nationalist movement, leading to more violence and discrimination against religious minorities. Civil rights activists and critics of the government have continued to speak out against the increasing influence of Hindu nationalism, organizing anti-fascism marches and using social media to share the values of India’s secular constitution.
While the opening of the temple has been hailed as a landmark in India’s history by some, others see it as a sign of the country’s departure from its secular roots. For many in India, the rise of Hindu nationalism poses a threat to the nation’s ideals and values, with the battle against discrimination and violence likely to be a long and arduous one.