Religious violence in India

Religious violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting. Hinduism , the largest religion in India, accounts for 80% of the population; Islam , the second largest religion, accounts for 13% of the population; Buddhism , Jainism , and Sikhism taken together account for 3% of the population; and Christianity accounts for 2.40% of the population. Other religions such as Zoroastrianism and Judaism , although not popular, have a centuries long history in India. Religious fundamentalism is considered a major driver; with Hindu nationalism , Sikh separatism , Christian Evangelism , and Islamic fundamentalism acting as catalysts or as primary forces for outbreaks of violence. Despite India's secular and religiously tolerant constitution, broad religious representation in various aspects of society including the government, the active role played by autonomous bodies such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities , and the ground-level work being carried out by Non-governmental organizations , sporadic and sometimes serious acts of religious violence tend to occur as the root causes of religious violence often run deep in history, religious activities, and politics of India. Along with domestic organizations, international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch publish reports on acts of religious violence in India. Foreign government organizations such as United States Department of State have also published similar, but controversial, reports which have largely been dismissed in India as interference in internal affairs . "Census of India: Population by religious communities" . 2001. "Should religions try to convert others?" . : Unknown parameter |month= ignored ( help ) "Teachings of religious tolerance and intolerance in world religions" . "A new breed of missionary" . 2--5-04-01. : Check date values in: |date= ( help ) "India:Events of 2007" . "International Religious Freedom Report 2007 - India" . 2007. The government generally respected the rights of its citizens; however, numerous serious problems remained "CPI(M) terms US report on West Bengal 'interference' in India" . Responding to the point made by Dasgupta, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee observed the report should be 'ignored with contempt it deserves'. "We are not bound by the Bush administration," he said.

Communal violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting. Religious violence in India, especially in recent times, has generally involved Hindus and Muslims , although incidents of violence have also involved Christians , Jews , and Sikhs . There is also history of Muslim – Parsee riots ( List of riots in Mumbai ). Despite the secular and religiously tolerant constitution of India , broad religious representation in various aspects of society including the government, the active role played by autonomous bodies such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities , and the ground-level work being out by Non-governmental organisations, sporadic and sometimes serious acts of religious violence tend to occur as the root causes of religious violence often run deep in history, religious activities, and politics of India. Along with domestic organisations, international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch publish reports on acts of religious violence in India. Over 2005 to 2009 period, an average of 130 people died every year from communal violence, or about 0.01 deaths per 100,000 population. The state of Maharashtra reported the highest total number of religious violence related fatalities over that 5-year period, while Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest fatality rate per year per 100,000 population between 2005 and 2009. Over 2012, a total of 97 people died across India from various riots related to religious violence. The world's average annual death rate from intentional violence, in recent years, has been 7.9 per 100,000 people. "Census of India: Population by religious communities" . 2001.

Religious violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting. Religious violence in India has generally involved Hindus and Muslims . Despite the secular and religiously tolerant constitution of India , broad religious representation in various aspects of society including the government, the active role played by autonomous bodies such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities , and the ground-level work being done by non-governmental organisations, sporadic and sometimes serious acts of religious violence tend to occur as the root causes of religious violence often run deep in history, religious activities, and politics of India. Along with domestic organizations, international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch publish reports on acts of religious violence in India. Over 2005 to 2009 period, an average of 130 people died every year from communal violence, or about 0.01 deaths per 100,000 population. The state of Maharashtra reported the highest total number of religious violence related fatalities over that five-year period, while Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest fatality rate per year per 100,000 population between 2005 and 2009. Over 2012, a total of 97 people died across India from various riots related to religious violence. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom classified India as Tier-2 in persecuting religious minorities, the same as that of Iraq and Egypt. In a 2018 report, USCIRF charged Hindu nationalist groups for their campaign to " Saffronize " India through violence, intimidation, and harassment against non-Hindus and Hindu Dalits . Approximately one-third of state governments enforced anti-conversion and/or anti-cow slaughter laws against non-Hindus, and mobs engaged in violence against Muslims or Dalits whose families have been engaged in the dairy, leather, or beef trades for generations, and against Christians for proselytizing. "Cow protection" lynch mobs killed at least 10 victims in 2017. "Census of India: Population by religious communities" . 2001.

Religious violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting. Religious violence in India has generally involved Hindus and Muslims . Despite the secular and religiously tolerant Constitution of India , broad religious representation in various aspects of society including the government, the active role played by autonomous bodies such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities , and the ground-level work being done by non-governmental organisations, sporadic and sometimes serious acts of religious violence tend to occur as the root causes of religious violence often run deep in history, religious activities, and politics of India. Along with domestic organizations, international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch publish reports on acts of religious violence in India. From 2005 to 2009, an average of 130 people died every year from communal violence, or about 0.01 deaths per 100,000 population. The state of Maharashtra reported the highest total number of religious violence related fatalities over that five-year period, while Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest fatality rate per year per 100,000 population between 2005 and 2009. Over 2012, a total of 97 people died across India from various riots related to religious violence. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom classified India as Tier-2 in persecuting religious minorities, the same as that of Iraq and Egypt. In a 2018 report, USCIRF charged Hindu nationalist groups for their campaign to " Saffronize " India through violence, intimidation, and harassment against non-Hindus. Approximately one-third of state governments enforced anti-conversion and/or anti- cattle slaughter laws against non-Hindus, and mobs engaged in violence against Muslims whose families have been engaged in the dairy, leather, or beef trades for generations, and against Christians for proselytizing. " Gau Rakshak " (Cow Protection) lynch mobs killed at least 10 victims in 2017. Many historians argue that religious violence in independent India is a legacy of the policy of divide and rule pursued by the British colonial authorities during the era of Britain's control over the Indian subcontinent , in which local administrators pitted Hindus and Muslims against one another, a tactic that eventually culminated in the partition of India . "Census of India: Population by religious communities" . 2001. "A new breed of missionary: A drive for conversions, not development, is stirring violent animosity in India" . The Christian Science Monitor . Vital Stats Communal Violence in India . Commission on International Religious Freedom . Many historians argue that the Partition could have been avoided had it not been for the "divide-and-rule" tactics the British used throughout the colonial era to heighten tensions between South Asian Muslims and Hindus, thus creating a role for themselves as indispensable and benevolent mediators. The legacy of these "divide-and-rule" tactics includes not only the Partition, but also the repeated wars and skirmishes, strained relations, and ongoing arms race between India and Pakistan.