Ahead of LS polls, India ‘at risk of communal violence’

Washington, January 29

There is a strong possibility of communal violence in India if the ruling BJP stresses Hindu nationalist themes ahead of the General Election in May, America’s top spymaster told US lawmakers on Tuesday.

The comment on India’s upcoming General Election is part of the US intelligence community’s assessment of worldwide threats in 2019 and was presented in a written document to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence by Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence.

“The 2019 elections  in India increase the possibility of communal violence if Indian PM Narendra Modi’s BJP stresses Hindu nationalist themes,” Coats said. “BJP policies during Modi’s first term have deepened communal tension in some BJP-governed states and Hindu nationalist  leaders might view a Hindu-nationalist campaign as a signal to incite low-level violence to animate their supporters,” he said in his written statement. 

He also warns of a strained India-Pakistan relationship at least till May. — PTI