Behind the Growing Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
A Hindu businessman was attacked by a mob in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district on 31 December 2025. He was beaten with sharp weapons, doused in petrol and set on fire. This was the third such attack in a month, part of a larger pattern of violence against religious minorities since the fall of the previous government. The incident shows that the interim administration has failed to enforce the rule of law in cases involving political or communal violence. That failure has left the country’s transition in a dangerously exposed state.
Why Shoe Thrown at CJI Over Idol Remark is Disturbing
A lawyer who threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai inside the courtroom after his public interest petition was dismissed has said he does not regret it. His unapologetic stance suggests the act was not a sudden emotional reaction. It appears to reflect ideological absolutism, the belief that one’s views are unquestionable, which can lead individuals to defy democratic norms, justify disruption in the name of faith and assume public support for such behaviour.
Is Uttar Pradesh’s Crackdown on ‘I Love Muhammad’ Just and Wise?
Uttar Pradesh has launched a series of criminal and administrative actions after banners reading “I Love Muhammad” appeared during a Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur. Following complaints that the banners had been placed in new locations and that some other posters were allegedly removed, police registered FIRs, made arrests and moved to demolish properties linked to those accused. The government’s response raises serious concerns about proportionality, neutrality and wisdom in governance.
Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Bill Could Trigger Repression, Violence: Former Civil Servants
A group of 79 retired civil servants has raised alarm over a draft law in Punjab that seeks to criminalise sacrilege, warning that it could open the door to repression, religious strife, and misuse of power. In a joint letter, they urged the state’s legislature to scrap the proposed Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Act, 2025 entirely.
Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 Partially Stayed by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked certain parts of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, a law that governs how Muslim religious and charitable properties are managed in India. The Court’s interim order, delivered on Sept. 14, comes in response to widespread legal challenges from political leaders and Muslim organisations. The judges noted that it is rare for courts to pause the implementation of a law passed by Parliament, and such action is taken only when there is a strong legal basis.
New Rajasthan Bill Creates Unequal Rules for Religious Conversion
The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, on Sept. 9. One of its most troubling features is how it redefines religious conversion, saying that returning to one’s “ancestral religion” is not considered a conversion at all. This definition, also found in similar laws in other states, creates an uneven legal standard that protects some religious identities while exposing others to state scrutiny, criminal charges and harsh punishment.
UK to Monitor Religious Freedom in India Under New Foreign Policy Focus
Britain has named India among 10 countries it will closely monitor for violations of religious freedom as part of a new foreign policy strategy. The move links the United Kingdom’s international relations more directly with the defence of freedom of religion or belief.
Mass Burials, Rape, Paedophilia at Karnataka’s Dharmasthala Temple: Whistle-Blower
A former sanitation worker has testified in court that for nearly two decades he was forced by men linked to the Dharmasthala temple administration to bury the bodies of women and girls killed after being sexually assaulted within the temple premises in Karnataka. His claims, allegedly backed by skeletal remains and burial site details, point to a long period of institutional silence and inaction on disappearances reported in the region over the last thirty years.
Uttarakhand Targets ‘Fake Sadhus,’ Risking State Overreach into Religious Identity
The Uttarakhand government has launched Operation Kalanemi, a state-wide police campaign to identify individuals posing as saints and Kanwariyas. The stated aim is to preserve the religious and cultural sanctity of the state. This raises a serious constitutional concern, because it suggests the government is stepping into the role of deciding who counts as a legitimate religious figure, a function it has no authority to perform in a secular democracy.
Kanwariya Violence and the Rise of ‘Para Sovereignty’ in Public Life
A group of Kanwariyas, religious pilgrims, beat up a man and smashed his motorcycle over a minor collision in Uttar Pradesh on July 10, while the police merely “pacified” the crowd and escorted the victim to safety. This is not an isolated incident, and there is a name for what such actions, now increasingly common, represent: para sovereignty. It refers to situations where groups outside the state act as if they have the authority to enforce rules, punish others and dominate public space – powers that belong solely to the state.
The Quiet Power of a 90-Year-Old Monk That China Cannot Silence
China stands as a global giant, with the world’s second largest economy, an expanding military footprint and growing influence in international diplomacy. Yet for all its power, it remains deeply unsettled by a monk living in exile in the Indian Himalayas – the Dalai Lama, who will turn 90 on July 6. The reason lies in what he symbolises and what China has failed to control despite decades of effort.
Report Finds 947 Hate Cases in 1 Year, Why It Should Worry Everyone
A new study has found nearly 950 hate-related incidents in India during the first year of the main ruling party’s third term. Religious minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, were the main targets of violence and hate speech. This rise in unchecked and largely unpunished hostility should concern all citizens, as it points to a breakdown in the rule of law and weakens the social contract – basic agreement that holds a diverse society together.
Should Religion Be Above Criticism?
A 22-year-old law student in Pune has been charged with allegedly offending religious sentiments after making derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Whatever the merits of the case, the incident raises an important question: should the right to free speech include the right to criticise religion—one’s own or someone else’s?
Targeted Attacks on Christians Rising in Odisha, Say Fact-Finding Teams
Three independent fact-finding missions conducted in Odisha between March and April 2025 have pointed to an alarming rise in targeted attacks, coercion and violations of constitutional rights against Christians—especially Adivasi and Dalit communities.
Delhi High Court Rebukes Ramdev for ‘Sharbat Jihad’ Remarks
The Delhi High Court expressed strong disapproval against Baba Ramdev, founder of Patanjali Foods, for using the misleading and provocative term “Rooh Afza jihad” in communal remarks targeting Hamdard, the pharmaceutical and food company famous for its popular drink, Rooh Afza. The matter came up before Justice Amit Bansal, who, after hearing preliminary arguments on April 22, warned Ramdev’s counsel of issuing a stringent order if such behaviour continued.
Supreme Court Pushes Centre to Defend Waqf Amendment
During the Supreme Court’s hearing on the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna posed pointed questions to both the government and the petitioners. The Act, which came into force recently, has been challenged by several petitioners who argue that it infringes on religious freedoms and the administrative autonomy of the Muslim community.
Constitutionality of Waqf Amendment Challenged
Multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, have been filed before the Supreme Court. The petitioners, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, argue the Act infringes upon religious freedom and property rights.
After Muslim Property, Is RSS Targeting Christian Assets?
An article in Organiser, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) official publication, has claimed that the Catholic Church is India’s largest non-governmental landowner, surpassing even the Muslim Waqf Board. The assertion has triggered concerns that after targeting Muslim property through the recent Waqf Amendment Bill, the RSS might now focus on Christian properties.
Waqf Amendment Bill Passed: Why Muslims Are Concerned
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed in Parliament on April 4, has raised significant concerns among Indian Muslims regarding its potential implications on religious autonomy and minority rights. Despite assurances from the government that the amendments aim to improve governance and transparency, critics argue that the changes could undermine the independence of Waqf institutions and jeopardise the management of historical Islamic endowments.
Supreme Court Halts Tree Felling in Telangana
Days after protesting students of University of Hyderabad were lathi-charged, the Supreme Court on April 3 ordered the State of Telangana to halt all developmental activities in the Kancha Gachibowli area of Hyderabad, citing large-scale felling of trees and environmental concerns.