According to a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), religious freedom in India continued to deteriorate as violence and discrimination against minorities escalated in 2024.
According to the research, in order to garner political support before the June national elections, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spread false information and hate speech on Muslims and other religious minorities.
The USCIRF report stated that such rhetoric fueled attacks on religious minorities, including vigilante violence, targeted and arbitrary deaths, and the destruction of property and places of worship, that persisted after the election.
The research claims that the Indian government has also persisted in broadening its use of oppressive measures against religious minorities overseas, particularly Sikhs and those who support them.
