Delhi Kristallnacht 2020: Coexistence of Contradictory Cohabitation of (in)Tolerance and the Hindutva Ideology

Abstract

Voltaire, an eminent enlightenment scholar, posited that the notion of tolerance, besides ensuring peace and harmony in society, prevents the onset of a civil war. The assumption of power in India by the right-wing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and ensuing policy and constitutional amendments have reinvigorated the Hindu nationalism and religious parties on the one hand, and an equal amount of criticism from those who want to preserve the secularity of the Indian Constitution, on the other. This paper examines the impact of these policies and constitutional amendments on the social fabric of India and finds that the notion of tolerance has eroded to a great extent in India. Further, that the minorities, especially Muslims are likely to be the victims of violence and statelessness. The paper concludes that the Delhi Pogroms during 2020 were also a logical outcome of ideological and religious intolerance, theoretically leading to a civil war.