In India, incidents of religious insults against the Sikh community have surged, raising alarms over the government’s growing indifference.
Reports indicate that sacred Sikh Gurdwaras are increasingly being disrespected, exacerbating longstanding grievances within the community.
Since 2015, more than 200 cases of religious disrespect have been filed, yet there has been little to no significant legal action taken against perpetrators.
The current government, led by Prime Minister Modi, has been criticised for escalating oppression against Sikhs, particularly in the context of targeted crackdowns purportedly aimed at drug cartels. These actions have raised concerns that the government is using anti-drug operations as a pretext to silence calls for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan.
Notably, during the 2020-2021 farmer protests, over half of those arrested were Sikhs, despite Sikhs comprising only 2% of India's population.
This disproportionate targeting suggests a systemic bias against the community. Furthermore, Punjab, a Sikh-majority state, has witnessed 60% of national drug-related arrests, furthering fears that the government is manipulating these operations to label Sikhs as criminals.
The silence surrounding numerous incidents of religious insults has emboldened extremist groups like the RSS and Hindu militants, who operate with impunity under the current regime.
