India's Democracy is in Crisis

India has long been considered the largest democracy in the world.  But India’s constitution is struggling against the test of time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the BJP, a right-wing, Hindu-majority government, and today, there are growing concerns about the direction of India’s democracy.

Recently, two BJP party leaders made anti-Islamic comments, sparking protests, and clashes between Muslims and Hindus. Hundreds of Muslims were arrested and the homes of Muslim activists and protestors were reportedly demolished. Some prominent voices in India say that India’s democracy has been damaged beyond repair, and worry that the country is becoming a Hindu-nationalist state. In May, ten human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemned India for targeting and prosecuting journalists and government critics, particularly Muslim journalists. 

We speak with Indian-Muslim journalist Rana Ayyub, who has been subjected to harassment and detainment, and Indian-born journalist and writer Salil Tripathi about how India has gotten to this moment.

India has long been considered the largest democracy in the world.  But India’s constitution is struggling against the test of time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the BJP, a right-wing, Hindu-majority government, and today, there are growing concerns about the direction of India’s democracy.

Recently, two BJP party leaders made anti-Islamic comments, sparking protests, and clashes between Muslims and Hindus. Hundreds of Muslims were arrested and the homes of Muslim activists and protestors were reportedly demolished. Some prominent voices in India say that India’s democracy has been damaged beyond repair, and worry that the country is becoming a Hindu-nationalist state. In May, ten human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemned India for targeting and prosecuting journalists and government critics, particularly Muslim journalists. 

We speak with Indian-Muslim journalist Rana Ayyub, who has been subjected to harassment and detainment, and Indian-born journalist and writer Salil Tripathi about how India has gotten to this moment.