India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist BJP failed to win an outright majority in the country’s parliamentary elections. The weakened position of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party gives encouragement to the Christian community, which had feared an escalation of persecution in the event of a Modi majority.
The Indian parliament building in Delhi. AravindTeki, Canva
India’s Christian minority and human rights defenders are expressing relief following the results of the national election announced on June 4. The results showed that the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had failed to secure enough seats to form a government independently.
Consequently, the party will now have to rely on its alliance partners to form a government and rule. This could impose limits on its authoritarian and retaliatory approach to governance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP secured 240 seats, 32 seats short of the majority threshold of 272 in India’s lower house, made up of 543 seats. Together with its allies, the BJP accumulated a total of 293 seats. Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, garnered 232 seats.
During its election campaign, which relied heavily on anti-minority rhetoric, the BJP asserted it would secure over 400 seats. The rhetoric suggested that the BJP, which has ruled with a strong hand for the past decade, would continue its harsh treatment of religious minorities, including Christians, as well as human rights activists.
“The God to whom Christians of India prayed has answered their prayer in the form of a reduced mandate for Modi’s party,” A.C. Michael, from the New Delhi-based United Christian Forum (UCF) which monitors attacks on Christians, told CSI. “It doesn’t have even a simple majority in the Lok Sabha [lower house].”
UCF reports that the persecution of Christians in India has escalated dramatically over the past five years.
In 2021, there were at least 486 reported incidents of violence targeting Christians, marking it as the most violent year on record for the community. This alarming trend persisted into 2022, with close to 600 attacks documented. By 2023, the number of these incidents had increased further, significantly surpassing 600.
In addition to the attacks, the authorities arrested over 350 Christians in 2023, falsely accusing them of attempting to convert Hindus to Christianity.
The BJP government also revoked or refused to renew the necessary licenses for several Christian ministries, including World Vision and Compassion International, to receive foreign funds. These funds were primarily used for public service projects, such as supporting orphans, the elderly and children suffering from malnutrition and hunger.
Furthermore, many human rights defenders have been or are currently imprisoned. For instance, Jesuit priest and human rights advocate Father Stan Swamy. In July 2021, the 84-year-old died in custody. He had been held without trial for nine months under the country’s anti-terrorism laws for his work supporting the rights of India’s indigenous populations.
Christian workers and human rights activists persevere in their efforts to improve the lives of the underprivileged. They do so despite facing immense pressure and the constant threat of attack or arrest.
However, with Modi’s party losing its majority in parliament, the government may no longer be able to target these groups as effectively. The BJP’s key allies are not known for promoting Hindu nationalism.
This could mean the release of those wrongfully arrested, restoration of Christian and human rights groups’ licenses to receive foreign funds, and a sense of security for human rights defenders, Christian workers and members of the Christian community.
Attacks on minorities may continue though, as law and order is primarily managed at the state level, and the BJP remains in power in several states across the country.
As Michael said, the outcome of the election “limits Modi from having a free run.” He added, “This situation guarantees the possibility of checks and balances, and accountability.”
