The eye-popping report exposed the dictatorial face of the self-proclaimed secular state of India, ranking 104th in the Democracy Index.

The Modi government uses sedition, defamation, and anti-terrorism laws to crack down on those protesting the Hindutva agenda.
Political Editor
London/Stockholm: A report by Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy Institute has said that due to the anti-minority policy of the Modi government, India fell down in the index of major democracies. The spectacular report published by Sweden’s “Varieties of Democracy Institute” exposed the dictatorial face of the self-proclaimed secular state of India. India’s rank in the liberal democracy index has become 104 out of 179 countries, mainly due to minorities there. Atrocities and restrictions on freedom of expression. India’s low ranking in this index shows the influence of Hindutva ideology in the Modi government. Minorities, especially Muslims, have been treated as second-class citizens since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The Modi government has used sedition, defamation, and counter-terrorism to suppress those protesting against its Hindutva agenda in the country. Similarly, journalists critical of the government face intimidation tactics ranging from tax evasion charges to terrorism charges. The report cites controversial legislation such as the 2019 ban on illegal activities. Thom’s Act and constitutional amendments have been criticized for secularism.