India as a nation is built on the ethos of plurality and "Unity in Diversity". The unique position and strength of Indian democracy has always been the fact that religious minorities have never been subject to a compulsion of conforming to the majority's point of view. This has also been because the Hindus have been tolerant and big believers in constitution rather than religion based outfits to assert themselves.
Practicing secularism, maintaining diversity, following constitution, law and order are not only majority's responsibility but every Indian's responsbility. Although majority will continue to do so because its in their DNA despite facing ethnic cleansing and becoming refugee in their own country (Kashmir +North east -Reang or Bru Tribe etc). IMO Parsis, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhist, Christians are the real minorities but according to media and intellectual apologist. Sunnis Muslim (majority) are the real minority and minority in minority Shias (Ismailis, dawoodi bohra, jafferies -tweler-) are irrelevant in Indian polity because they always supported BJP silently and came out openly in 2014 and 2019, along with some Sunnis too, BJP muslim voteshare doubled in last 2 General election. There must be some reason, right? Although its still low but they started making inroads into Muslim community as well.
I don't know if you have followed mainstream media, SM etc over the last 7 years but under this Govt, this dynamic has changed dramatically. More and more Hindus are told that they are in danger, especially from Muslims and Christians. This is an extremely dangerous path. It started with the silence on lynchings, cow-vigilantism and open demonization of Muslims in the media. What to say about the troll armies on Facebook, Whatsapp and their continual projection of Modi/BJP as the only savior against a tide of Beef-eating, Love-Jihading, dangerous Muslims.
I don't subscribe to Ravish-Rajdeep-Arnab kind of journalism tbh but i do volunteer work here n there and spent considerable amount of time in UP, J&K (Valley), Ladakh(kargil) under various initiatives. Only a idiot person can deny that there is no lynching culture over cow-beef etc in India but if you're saying this is only happening in Modi's India then i humbly disagree. I have said this couple of times in my previous posts, in my understanding its social disease- Law and order problem. You can deny this fact but IMHO its century old problem and not going to resolve anytime soon, no matter who sits at the centre (BJP or Congress). Unless police reforms comes into play.
Love Jihad is not propaganda tho, my half family is muslim so i have witnessed this countless time. Heck even my better half casually asked me to convert. It started as a joke at first then after some time it got serious, followed by emotional blackmail and irony is our families are friends with each others since ages. She's Yoga instructor and from educated family but kya kare bc conversion bahut jaruri hai after all gaandu ristedaaro ka syapa har jagah hai. You can only imagine what could happen to non-muslim girl.
These are the reasons that I think this Govt has undermined democracy in ways we never thought possible. Some people disagree and think that people like us are being alarmist to be so anti-BJP. Frankly speaking, I think if this Govt continues down this path, we will be staring at an obnoxious country of majoritrians that will be a pale shadow of the India that was respected for its democratic credentials through the past decades despite its limited economic or military might. Then again, I also have hope that democracy as a concept is resilient and sheer geo-political compulsions will save India from the Modi-Shah juggernaut of absolutism.
Unfortunately common folks die on both side but apologists and certain section of media only highlight one side of stories according to their allegiance be it right wing or left. Nothing is going to change on the ground but fearmongering will disappear if BJP lose the election, although its looks tough because there is no option for the voters.
Will start panicking about democracy if BJP gets into political killing like TMC, undermining SC's judgement, facilitate ethnic cleansing like INC.
Just to cheer you up.
https://twitter.com/d_jaishankar/status/1408229286213996544 ~snip~
Every political party was patting on their own back when cases went down drastically, ish hamam mein sab nange hai.