Women

Two shocking incidents of moral policing and harassment involving members of the Muslim community emerged this week. In Muzaffarnagar, a Muslim woman was assaulted and forcibly stripped of her hijab, while in Bengaluru, a young woman was harassed for being in an interfaith relationship with a Hindu man. Both incidents, captured on video, highlight a disturbing rise in intolerance and moral policing, particularly targeting interfaith relationships

Several Kuki-Zo civil society organisations warn against any attempt to breach ‘buffer zone’.

Citizens for Justice and Peace urges interim relief to curb weaponisation of anti-conversion laws, challenges 2024 UP amendment enabling third-party complaints and harsher penalties

Much of it was culture

After the Union government insisted it would bring to the Court’s notice grave violations of the previous law, the Court recorded the Centre’s assurance of any appointment to the Waqf Board or Council, implying a bar on any non-Muslim appointments to the Waqf Boards/Council and stayed any Waqf property de-notifications, including waqf by user, under the 2025 amendment; next hearing on May 5

Here, state action is like a reflex. No debate is needed. No processing is needed. The Indian republic is hardwired, programmed to automatically respond the way it is doing in Bastar. Nothing can come in its way.