‘Dalits, OBCs endure state-sponsored oppression in Modi’s India’
Islamabad: The BJP-led Indian government is facing growing allegations of perpetuating caste-based oppression in India, with Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) subjected to escalating violence, exclusion, and discrimination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, critics argue that India, despite claiming to be a democracy, has become a “caste dictatorship” where Dalits continue to face denial of basic dignity, exclusion from temples, forced ostracism, and targeted violence. A 2022 report by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) reveals 98 forms of untouchability still practiced across the country, including denial of access to public spaces and services. In 2021, over 50,900 crimes were reported against Scheduled Castes, with Uttar Pradesh alone accounting for 13,000 cases. Violence, often sparked by caste disputes, continues to rise in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Dalit women face compounded discrimination, enduring both gender and caste-based violence. The NCRB reports that 7.64% of rape victims are Dalit women. High-profile cases, like the 2022 gang rape of a Dalit woman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, exposed systemic failures and institutional apathy, prompting national outrage.
Human rights organizations accuse the BJP of fostering upper-caste hegemony through its alignment with Hindutva ideology, reinforcing caste hierarchies. Critics argue that laws like “love jihad” disproportionately target Dalits and Muslims, while the government’s welfare schemes for marginalized communities are undermined by chronic underfunding and delays.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues has called caste discrimination a “global human rights crisis,” urging India to enforce stronger anti-discrimination laws. However, delays in trials and witness intimidation continue to undermine legal protections, with the 2018 Supreme Court ruling diluting the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act further exacerbating concerns.
Despite claims of promoting inclusivity, Dalits remain banned from basic rights like education and access to public services. With 74.57% of tribal atrocities occurring in just five states, critics warn that caste violence is approaching the scale of ethnic cleansing. As caste-based terror continues, Dalit communities are left with little recourse for justice, while the international community largely remains silent on the crisis.
For many, Modi’s “New India” is far from inclusive, perpetuating a system of social and economic apartheid for Dalits.
