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ISLAMABAD: A mob attacked and vandalized the Jama Masjid in Jorpokhri, Darjeeling, on Wednesday, shortly after the West Bengal Assembly elections in India, as reported by the Observer Post. The elections resulted in a victory for the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. The attack came as West Bengal entered a volatile political transition following the BJP&rsquo;s first major capture of power in the state, where the party won more than two-thirds of the 294-seat assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress&rsquo;s three-term-long dominance. The desecration in Jorpokhri has intensified fears among Muslim residents and rights advocates that the BJP&rsquo;s electoral surge in Bengal could embolden Hindutva-aligned groups targeting minority religious spaces. The Darjeeling mosque attack followed reports of political clashes in several districts after the vote count, adding to concerns that post-election violence has taken on both partisan and communal dimensions. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051861735016104061&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9dbb24720119e48bf7b82a61d1aabc6274e88271&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The desecration of mosques and Muslim religious spaces has become synonymous with India&rsquo;s Hindutva-centered political landscape under BJP rule. Amnesty International has documented the demolition of Muslim homes, businesses and places of worship through what rights groups call &ldquo;bulldozer justice,&rdquo; describing such actions as unlawful, punitive and discriminatory. Human Rights Watch has also reported that authorities have failed to act adequately against BJP supporters accused of attacks. Rights groups say victims of violence have themselves faced state action, including demolitions of Muslim-owned properties. This pattern reflects the deeper normalization of Hindutva politics in India, where Hindu majoritarian ideology increasingly shapes public life, state action and electoral mobilization. From the controversial Ayodhya temple built on the site of the martyred Babri Mosque to more recent disputes over mosques and Muslim neighborhoods, India&rsquo;s secular framework exists only in name.

India

Desecration heightens fears that Hindutva politics has normalized attacks on Muslim religious spaces across India.

Hindutva mob vandalizes Jama Masjid in India's Darjeeling after BJP’s Bengal victory

ISLAMABAD: BJP leaders in Karnataka have asked Bengaluru police to cancel a book discussion on jailed Muslim activist Umar Khalid, intensifying concerns over the shrinking space for dissent and minority voices in India, The Indian Express reported. The event, scheduled at Bangalore International Centre, is based on &#39;Umar Khalid and His World&#39; and is expected to feature readings and discussion by public intellectuals including Ramachandra Guha, Janaki Nair and Prakash Raj. A BJP delegation led by Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan met Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh and submitted a memorandum demanding that permission for the programme be withdrawn, the Deccan Chronicle reported. The party objected to the event on the grounds that Khalid, a former JNU student leader, is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in connection with the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2048713409999593665&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=2abc6fdf8a597be1bcf0cdf10b7b71f197d8ac77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Khalid has been in jail since September 2020, despite not having been convicted. His prolonged incarceration has repeatedly been cited by rights groups and civil society voices as an example of India&rsquo;s harsh treatment of Muslim activists and government critics. BJP leaders accused Khalid of being &ldquo;anti-national&rdquo; and questioned why an event should be held around a person who remains in jail, according to The New Indian Express. The party also claimed that the event could create a law-and-order problem and alleged that pro-Khalid slogans and graffiti had appeared in Bengaluru. Critics say such objections reflect a familiar pattern in which Muslim activists, students and dissenting voices are branded as threats before their cases are fully adjudicated in court.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2048816234196774952&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=2abc6fdf8a597be1bcf0cdf10b7b71f197d8ac77&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The attempt to stop the event has also raised questions over whether the BJP is seeking to police public discussion around politically sensitive cases involving Muslims and critics of the government, The Hindu reported. Supporters of the programme argue that a literary discussion about a book does not amount to glorifying crime, particularly when the person at the centre of the discussion has not been convicted. The controversy comes amid broader concerns about the use of anti-terror laws against Muslim activists and student leaders in India, The Deccan Herald reported. While the BJP maintains that its demand is aimed at preserving public order, civil liberties advocates argue that preventing such events weakens democratic debate and deepens the marginalisation of Muslim political voices.

BJP leaders sought cancellation of a Bengaluru book event on jailed Muslim activist Umar Khalid, raising concerns over free speech, minority dissent and political pressure on public discussion.

BJP seeks ban on Umar Khalid book event in Bengaluru

ISLAMABAD: Voting began on Thursday in two of India&rsquo;s most politically important opposition-held states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. But Bengal&rsquo;s first phase was overshadowed by claims that voter-roll deletions disproportionately hit Muslims and other marginalized groups, according to AP. In West Bengal, polling opened for 152 of the state&rsquo;s 294 assembly seats, while Tamil Nadu voted in a single phase for all 234 seats. Results in both states are due on May 4. BJP targets opposition strongholdsPrime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s BJP is trying to break into both opposition strongholds. In West Bengal, it is seeking to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s Trinamool Congress, which won 213 seats in the 2021 election. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP remains a junior ally of the strongest regional party, AIADMK and has historically struggled to make significant gains. Voter roll purge under scrutinyIn Bengal, however, the most serious issue hanging over the vote is not just campaign rhetoric, but who has been allowed to vote at all. About 9 million names were removed from West Bengal&rsquo;s electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision, roughly 12% of the electorate. The Election Commission has said the exercise was meant to remove duplicate, deceased or otherwise ineligible voters, according to AP and other reports. Critics, however, say it has instead become a blunt instrument of disenfranchisement. Murshidabad fallout deepens alarmThe Wire reported from Murshidabad that the fallout extends far beyond the ballot box. Migrant laborers whose names were deleted are now trapped in what the report described as a no-man&rsquo;s land. Some workers said employers were demanding proof that they had voted in order to show they were not &ldquo;Bangladeshi.&rdquo; In border districts and Muslim-majority belts, the stigma attached to deletion has turned an administrative exercise into a threat to livelihood, dignity and belonging. The pattern has raised wider alarm because the exclusions appear to fall disproportionately on vulnerable communities. A data analysis by The Wire said Muslim-heavy constituencies, especially in the border belt, were disproportionately pushed into harsher scrutiny channels. AP also reported that opposition leaders accused the BJP of using the purge to suppress minority and dissenting votes. Security was tightened across Bengal, including at &ldquo;supersensitive&rdquo; polling stations and along the Bangladesh border. But the central question surrounding this election is not only whether voting will be peaceful. It is whether an election can be called fully democratic when millions arrived on polling day, already erased from the rolls.

Voting began in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, but Bengal’s first phase was overshadowed by claims that voter-roll deletions disproportionately affected Muslims and other marginalized groups, raising disenfranchisement concerns.

Elections in India begin amid voter purge controversy

ISLAMABAD: A fresh confrontation has erupted between the Indian Congress and the BJP after Congress MP K.C. Venugopal filed a privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his April 18 televised address to the nation, according to The Times of India&#39;s Tuesday report. The notice was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on April 21. The row stems from Modi&rsquo;s speech a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.&nbsp; The bill had been proposed by the government as a step toward implementing reserved seats for women.&nbsp; According to The Indian Express, Venugopal accused the Prime Minister of making &ldquo;direct reflections&rdquo; on the voting pattern of Opposition MPs and attributing motives to them. He argued that such remarks amounted to a &ldquo;serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House&rdquo;.&nbsp; Venugopal also said Modi&rsquo;s use of a national address to criticize the Opposition was unprecedented and unethical, describing it as a &ldquo;blatant abuse of power.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2046585126533161190&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ad5423ad7fe8df2f635750d320f9d812f0b6d588&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1302px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The notice argued that no person, including the Prime Minister, should comment on the conduct or voting behavior of MPs in a way that questions their motives.&nbsp; Venugopal said such imputations undermine the dignity and authority of Parliament and interfere with the free and independent discharge of parliamentary duties. The Congress also argued that the Opposition&rsquo;s stand was not against women&rsquo;s reservation itself.&nbsp; As reported by The Tribune, Venugopal pointed out that the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, providing for women&rsquo;s reserved seats in the Lok Sabha, had already been passed unanimously. He said objections to the new bill were rooted in concerns over its additional provisions, including those tied to delimitation. Congress member of the Upper House, Jairam Ramesh, publicly backed the move, saying a Prime Minister&rsquo;s address to the nation should be reserved for moments of national unity and confidence-building.&nbsp; But Modi&rsquo;s speech, he argued, turned instead into a partisan attack marked by repeated criticism of the Congress, according to The Times of India. Venugopal has urged the Speaker to treat the matter urgently, refer it to the Committee of Privileges and initiate proceedings against the prime minister. The notice has added a new layer of political tension to the fallout from the bill&rsquo;s defeat in the Lok Sabha.

Congress accuses the PM of abusing power by attacking opposition parliamentarians in a televised address after the women’s quota bill failed.

Indian opposition moves privilege motion against Modi

ISLAMABAD: A female journalist in India&#39;s Kerala state has alleged that she faced online abuse and threats after questioning a BJP candidate about a cash-for-votes controversy. The incident marks the latest escalation in a row that has already triggered an official inquiry and raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering the case. Maktoob Media reported that journalist Shamna K, a Muslim, who works with Malayalam news channel Big TV, received abusive messages and misogynistic remarks across social media after pressing Sobha Surendran at a press conference. According to Maktoob, the exchange took place after Shamna asked Surendran whether the woman seen in a video allegedly distributing cash to voters was linked to the BJP candidate. The report said Surendran did not give a clear answer and ended the press conference soon afterward. The controversy comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations that cash was distributed to influence voters in Palakkad ahead of the Kerala Assembly election. The Times of India reported that the district inquiry has concluded and that a final report is expected next week, although it is still pending the statement of an elderly woman allegedly seen receiving the money. The inquiry has included statements from Surendran, rival candidates and other witnesses connected to the case. The issue has also raised wider concern about the treatment of journalists reporting on the episode. Earlier this month, police protection was provided to MediaOne Palakkad reporter Sajid Ajmal after intelligence reportedly flagged threats linked to BJP-RSS circles over his reporting on the same alleged cash-for-votes incident. That development was reported by both Maktoob and Madhyamam, the new outlets. Taken together, the latest developments suggest that journalists pursuing sensitive questions in the Palakkad controversy are facing an increasingly hostile environment. Threats, political pressure and allegations of intimidation are now becoming a parallel story to the cash-for-votes probe itself.

The incident marks the latest escalation in a row that has triggered an official inquiry and raises concerns over the safety of journalists covering the case.

India: Muslim journalist faces abuse after questioning BJP candidate

ISLAMABAD: Recent demolitions of Muslim religious sites in Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have intensified concerns over selective enforcement, due process and religious persecution, Clarion India reported on Monday. The latest widely reported move came in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, where authorities demolished an Eidgah and an imambargah in Bicholi village, saying both stood on government land, according to the Times of India. Officials said the demolition was part of a broader campaign against illegal encroachments on public property. Reports said notices had been issued earlier and that the structures lacked legal authorization.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2045999183648162262&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=51c42ab2fb9a5260e04c2556a4e470793c0e0ad0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The operation was carried out under heavy police deployment, reflecting the sensitivity of the action in the communally tense district.&nbsp; The Sambhal demolitions came just after a court-backed move in Etawah. A United Trust of India (UNI) report said a forest authority court on April 17 ordered the eviction of a shrine allegedly built on illegal land in the Fisher Forest area, ruling that it stood on reserved forest land.&nbsp; The report said the case followed a 64-day hearing process during which shrine representatives were unable to produce documentary proof supporting their claim over the site.&nbsp; In Uttarakhand, the administration in Udham Singh Nagar demolished three religious structures on April 18, including a mosque and two shrines in the Gularbhoj Dineshpur area, according to The Print.&nbsp; Officials claimed the structures had been built illegally on Irrigation Department land and that notices had been served months earlier asking the occupants to submit ownership or permission documents.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044839910180319252&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=51c42ab2fb9a5260e04c2556a4e470793c0e0ad0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The controversy has grown because residents are disputing not only the demolitions but also the manner in which they were carried out.&nbsp; Clarion India reported that locals in Gularbhoj alleged police restricted movement in the area during the operation and said only Muslim religious structures were singled out, despite broader disputes over land in the settlement.&nbsp; Taken together, the three cases have sharpened a wider debate.&nbsp; Even though authorities describe the demolitions as lawful removal of illegal structures, victims and critics see an increasingly troubling pattern in which Muslim places of worship are being targeted and bearing the brunt of such drives.

Demolitions of Muslim religious structures in Sambhal, Etawah and Udham Singh Nagar have intensified concerns over due process, with authorities citing encroachment laws and residents alleging selective and unfair targeting.

Mosque, shrine demolitions raise religious persecution concerns in north India

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s delimitation battle has become the newest front in the charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s BJP is not merely fighting elections but trying to lock in power structurally.&nbsp; Local media, opposition parties and critics on social media are accusing BJP of reshaping the political system of India itself in a desparate attempt to hold onto power. Delimitation of parliamentCritics in the South say a post-2026 redraw of Lok Sabha seats could shift weight toward the more populous Hindi belt, where the BJP has long drawn its core strength, and dilute the clout of states that have resisted it electorally.&nbsp; The Wire has warned that the plan could marginalise southern states in Parliament, with the opposition saying that even a blanket seat increase carries &ldquo;deeper implications&rdquo; for the federal balance.&nbsp; One Nation, One ElectionBefore that came the push for &ldquo;One Nation, One Election.&rdquo; The BJP calls it efficiency. Critics see something harsher: the compression of state politics into one nationalised contest dominated by the country&rsquo;s biggest political machine, BJP.&nbsp; Digital News outlet Scroll reported concerns that simultaneous elections would erode federalism by subsuming regional issues and identities.&nbsp; CAA Rules, 2024Then came the Citezenship Amendment Act rules, notified in March 2024 on the eve of the general election.&nbsp; The Wire reported that BJP leaders in West Bengal publicly tied implementation to the coming polls, and later said the first citizenship certificates were granted ahead of the final phase of voting in a move that could benefit the BJP in West Bengal.&nbsp; Critics have long argued that the law helps the BJP sharpen Hindu-majoritarian consolidation at election time.&nbsp; Electoral bonds scandalThe electoral bonds scandal, 2024, laid bare the money machine. The Wire reported that the BJP redeemed INR 82.5 billion, just short of half of all bonds sold under the now-struck-down scheme.&nbsp; In blunt political terms, critics say anonymous money helped build a campaign apparatus no rival could match.&nbsp; Restructuring election commissioner appointing committee&nbsp;In 2023, Modi&rsquo;s government changed the law on appointing Election Commissioners, replacing the Chief Justice of India on the selection panel with a Union cabinet minister.&nbsp; Scroll reported that challenges to the law argued it let the executive tighten its grip over the body meant to referee elections.&nbsp; Use of central agenciesRunning underneath all this since 2014 has been the use of central agencies, especially the Enforcement Directorate.&nbsp; Scroll, citing official-data analysis, reported that Enforcement Directorate raids and searches rose 86 times under the Modi government compared with the previous decade.&nbsp;Critics say the Enforcement Directorate helps the BJP stay in power by putting opposition leaders under legal and political pressure, draining their time, money and campaign focus. They also point to a &ldquo;washing machine&rdquo; pattern, in which action against some opposition politicians weakens or stalls after they join the BJP or its allies, creating pressure on rivals to defect and fragmenting the opposition. Taken together, these measures have fueled opposition allegations that the BJP has used changes in representation, election timing, campaign finance, institutions and investigative pressure to strengthen its long-term political advantage.

India’s delimitation dispute has renewed opposition allegations that Narendra Modi’s BJP has used seat redistribution, simultaneous poll plans, the CAA, electoral funding, institutional changes and central agencies to build lasting political advantage and weaken rivals since coming to power in 2014.

BJP accused of reshaping India’s political system to retain power

KOLKATA: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India and the border stretches for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), large parts of which are unfenced across delta regions where Himalayan rivers wind toward the sea. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that &quot;the use of reptiles&quot; was discussed in a February meeting with the Home Ministry. &quot;We have been asked to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles in vulnerable riverine gaps,&quot; said Barnwal, deputy inspector general of the paramilitary force based in Kolkata, near the border with Bangladesh. &quot;The plan revolves around leveraging natural deterrents like crocodiles and snakes in flood-prone zones, along the unfenced area where traditional fencings are either ineffective or not possible,&quot; he added. The border between India and Bangladesh cuts through the Sundarbans, the world&#39;s largest mangrove forest. &quot;It&#39;s an innovative move, but there are several challenges and it raises safety concerns,&quot; Barnawl said. &quot;How do we procure the reptiles? What impact might it have on the people in the villages sitting along the riverine border?&quot; &quot;We have asked our field units to study the feasibility of the approach and send the report as soon as possible,&quot; he added. Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. Bangladesh&#39;s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is in New Delhi on Wednesday -- the most senior envoy from Dhaka to visit since the 2024 uprising -- in a bid to rebuild frosty diplomatic relations. India has constructed border fencing stretching hundreds of kilometres (miles), and arrested scores of Bangladeshis attempting to cross the frontier in the wake of Hasina&#39;s overthrow. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration, particularly from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as &quot;termites&quot; and &quot;infiltrators&quot;. Rights groups have accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

Bangladesh

India is considering using snakes and crocodiles as natural deterrents along unfenced border stretches with Bangladesh, a proposal that highlights worsening ties, migration tensions and serious safety concerns for nearby communities.

India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

ISLAMABAD: A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy. A bomb explosion at Manipur University on Sunday evening was a fresh sign that the conflict-hit state is still far from normal, despite repeated official claims of stability, the Times of India reported. According to local media reports, the blast took place near staff quarters on the Canchipur campus, damaging property and causing panic. No casualties were reported, but university officials described it as an attack on &ldquo;education, peace, and harmony.&rdquo; The blast came as opposition grows to the government&rsquo;s plan to go ahead with the national census. Thousands of internally displaced persons and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee have urged authorities to delay the exercise until people forced from their homes by the violence are properly resettled. Critics say a census held now would distort population data and affect future political representation and development planning. The dispute points to the deeper crisis in Manipur. As The Economist recently noted, &quot;the state is still shaped by the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023&quot; between the largely Hindu Meiteis and the mainly Christian Kukis. The conflict is rooted in long-running tensions over identity, rights and resources, and it has left hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed. Those figures broadly match international reporting. When New Delhi imposed President&rsquo;s Rule in February 2025, Reuters reported that at least 250 people had been killed and around 60,000 displaced. Yet even after such large-scale loss and displacement, both the state and central governments have continued to project an image of recovery and communal harmony. For residents of Manipur, the issue is no longer only the violence that erupted in 2023, but the unresolved fallout that continues to shape daily life. The blast at Manipur University and the objections to holding a census before rehabilitation show that security, displacement and political trust remain deeply contested.

A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy

Manipur University blast puts focus back on India’s festering crisis

ISLAMABAD: Congress&rsquo; National spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed renewed scrutiny of alleged RSS backing for propaganda-style films in an X post, on Thursday.&nbsp;Dr. Shama said producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah had &ldquo;openly admitted&rdquo; that the RSS supported &ldquo;Kerala Story 2&rdquo; and arguing that this showed the organisation had backed a film meant to defame Kerala. Her post brought fresh attention to a wider debate over how the BJP and the RSS ecosystem support politically aligned cinema through ideological links, endorsements, tax breaks and promotion.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039579655645348127&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c92d3faf5176e582d37f5cad3e26fa7ac3e0dbe2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>At least ten films have been produced or directed by individuals linked to the BJP, the RSS, or affiliated Hindutva organisations, an Indian news outlet, The Quint, reported on Friday. The films named in the report include The Kerala Story, The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond, Bastar: The Naxal Story, Razakar, Swatantra Veer Savarkar, PM Narendra Modi, Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra, Bengal 1947, The Accidental Prime Minister, and Jahangir National University.&nbsp;One of the most striking claims in that report concerns producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The Quint said Shah acknowledged at the 2023 World Hindu Congress that The Kerala Story could not have been made without RSS &ldquo;guidance and support.&rdquo; The report said he described the RSS as the film&rsquo;s &ldquo;guardian angels.&rdquo;&nbsp;Political endorsement has also come from the top. Reuters reported that Indian PM Narendra Modi publicly praised The Kashmir Files in 2022. BJP-ruled states then moved to make the film tax-free, helping widen its reach.&nbsp;A similar pattern was seen with The Kerala Story and Article 370. NDTV reported that BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh made The Kerala Story tax-free. NDTV also reported that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh made Article 370 tax-free.&nbsp; Taken together, the reporting suggests these films are not just cultural products. They are increasingly part of a political ecosystem where cinema, ideology, and state patronage intersect.

The BJP and the wider RSS ecosystem are backing a string of ultra-nationalist and propaganda-style films in India; the support is not always visible as direct funding but through political links, public endorsements, tax breaks, and coordinated promotion by party leaders and allied networks. 

Articles tagged with "BJP"

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Mosque, shrine demolitions raise religious persecution concerns in north India

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India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

Manipur University blast puts focus back on India’s festering crisis

Scrutiny grows over BJP-RSS backing of propaganda films

Hindutva mob vandalizes Jama Masjid in India's Darjeeling after BJP’s Bengal victory