Truth Behind Narrative of Hindu Insecurity  in India

Hindus, who constitute approximately 78-80% of India's population (around 1.1 billion people based on recent estimates and extrapolations from the 2011 census), form the overwhelming majority in the country. As such, systemic insecurity or persecution of Hindus as a community in India is not supported by evidence from government data, international reports, or independent monitoring.

Dominant Patterns of Religious Violence

Recent reports on religious violence in India (2023-2025) overwhelmingly document attacks targeting religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims, often linked to Hindu nationalist groups or vigilante actions:

• Violence against Christians surged, with organizations like the Evangelical Fellowship of India reporting 601 incidents in 2023 and over 840 in 2024 (including assaults, church vandalism, and disruptions of worship).
• The United Christian Forum recorded over 800 verified acts of violence and intimidation against Christians in 2024.
• Communal riots rose 84% in 2024 (59 incidents per one monitoring group), with Muslims disproportionately affected in fatalities and property damage.
• International bodies like the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and human rights groups consistently highlight deteriorating conditions for minorities, including mob violence, hate speech, and discriminatory laws under Hindu nationalist influence.

Claims of Hindu Insecurity

Claims that Hindus feel "insecure" in India often stem from Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) narratives. These include:

• Allegations of "love jihad" (a debunked conspiracy theory claiming Muslim men systematically lure Hindu women for conversion).
• Fears of demographic change.
• Perceived threats from minorities.

These narratives are promoted by right-wing groups and have influenced policies (e.g., anti-conversion laws in several states), but fact-checks and investigations find no evidence of organized threats against the Hindu majority. Instead, they serve political mobilization, portraying Hindus as victims despite their demographic and political dominance.

Isolated Incidents and Historical Context

Isolated incidents of violence against Hindus occur (e.g., in communal clashes or specific regions like Kashmir historically), but these are not indicative of widespread insecurity for the majority community. In contrast, minorities face systemic challenges, including vigilante attacks and impunity for perpetrators in some cases.

In summary, while individual Hindus may experience crime or localized tensions like any citizen, the notion of Hindus being broadly "insecure" in Hindu-majority India is a politically constructed narrative rather than a reflection of on-ground realities, where minorities bear the brunt of religious intolerance and violence. India's secular constitution aims to protect all groups, but implementation challenges persist amid rising majoritarian politics.