BJP’s bulldozer politics under global scrutiny
Campaign termed persecution against India's minorities
New Delhi: The global spotlight on India’s Hindutva-driven policies continues to intensify as Foreign Policy magazine exposes the Modi regime’s use of bulldozers as tools for extrajudicial violence against minorities, particularly Muslims.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the leading US publication founded by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel in 1970, on global politics, economics, and ideas, highlights how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, such as Yogi Adityanath, have weaponized bulldozer demolitions to enforce Hindutva ideology, targeting Muslim communities under the guise of governance.
The bulldozer, once a mere construction tool, has become a powerful symbol of retributive justice in BJP-ruled states, where properties of Muslims accused of protests are demolished. This has been heavily criticized by human rights organizations like Amnesty International, which calls the demolitions politically motivated and a violation of basic rights. The BJP’s “bulldozer justice” has become central to India’s political culture, appearing in rallies, music, and media, further glorifying its use in advancing Hindu nationalism.
Despite facing growing international criticism and electoral setbacks, the BJP continues to use this tactic to deepen sectarian divides.
According to Foreign Policy, even after the BJP’s struggles in the 2024 general elections, bulldozer politics remain a potent tool for solidifying support among Hindu nationalist voters. This has led to increased communal violence against Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, with reports from the UN Human Rights Council documenting over 2,000 incidents of communal violence in 2022 alone.
