The Human Rights Foundation’s (HRF) “2023 Dictators’ Playbook” provides a chilling account of how authoritarian regimes suppress dissent by stripping citizens of their rights and nationality. This analysis offers a parallel to the policies and actions under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, which has been increasingly characterized by its alignment with Hindutva ideology—a form of Hindu nationalism. This shift towards authoritarianism raises significant concerns about the future of democracy in India.
Hindutva, promoted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), seeks to establish Hindu cultural hegemony in India. Modi, a long-time member of the RSS, has aligned his policies with this ideology since his election as Prime Minister in 2014. His regime has been marked by an aggressive push towards making India a Hindu nation, marginalizing religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims. One of the most controversial steps taken by Modi’s government is the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, thereby explicitly excluding Muslims. Coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which aims to identify illegal immigrants in India, these policies have disproportionately affected Muslims, rendering them stateless and vulnerable to detention. Modi’s government has also been accused of systematically suppressing dissent. Journalists, activists, and critics of the government face harassment, arrests, and intimidation. The use of draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to detain activists without trial has become increasingly common. Prominent intellectuals and human rights activists, such as Sudha Bharadwaj and Anand Teltumbde, have been imprisoned under dubious charges of terrorism and sedition. The government’s crackdown on protests, particularly those led by........