21st March is being observed as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination across the world. The day aims to raise awareness about equality and marks as an initiative to end all forms of racism and racial discrimination and calls all sections of society to stand up against intolerant attitudes. International peace and human rights organizations reports have revealed that India’s Hindu extremist government, through RSS has made horrifying life for Muslims, Christians, Dalits, and Sikhs. Bihar has a notorious record for crimes against Dalits. In 2021, 139045 incidents against Dalits were filed in various states. According to United Christian Forum, violence against Christians has geared up in New Delhi, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh since 2018, with perpetrators accusing them of forcefully converting Hindus. In the year 2021, the number of violent incidents against Christians jumped to 486, while 279 in 2020. During a congressional briefing in the US, Dr Gregory Stanton also warned that genocide would continue in India unless the international community played its part in confronting the “Hindutva” ideology. India has entered into a very critical phase of communal strife after the Hindu zealots led by RSS-inspired BJP leaders openly called for the genocide of the Muslims and persecution of other minorities through tacit extreme ploys. Professor of human rights law at American University in Washington, DC. Juan E Mendez has termed the communal situation in India, “dangerous” and “deeply disturbing”. From genocide in Kashmir to suppression of religious minorities, India has become an apartheid state where human rights and equality have become a far-flung idea. US and EU must rise above their economic and strategic interests and call for the protection of human rights in Indian minorities and Kashmiris in IIOJK.
