PARIS: Professor Christophe Jaffrelot, a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for International Studies and Research (CERI) in Paris, highlighted the worsening marginalization of Indian Muslims under the Hindutva regime, leading to social, economic and educational deprivation.
Speaking as the guest speaker in a roundtable discussion titled “The Plight of Minorities under Modi’s India,” Prof. Jaffrelot, based on qualitative and quantitative data derived from ethnographic studies and interviews, provided insights into the historical challenges faced by Muslim communities in India, dating back to 1947. He pointed out that while the situation was already concerning, it had further deteriorated on various fronts.
The French social scientist highlighted the underrepresentation of Muslims in key institutions. For instance, the representation of Muslims among Indian Civil Service (IAS) officers has consistently been below 7%, despite Muslims constituting 14.5% of the total population. Similar trends were observed in the police department, judiciary, and national and state-level assemblies.
Professor Jaffrelot pointed out the decline in Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha (national assembly) post-2014, directly linked to the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Economic disparities were stark, with the per capita wealth of Muslims at only 9.5% compared to their 14.5% population share.
In the education sector, the professor noted a decline in the percentage of Muslims attending higher education institutions in states like Uttar Pradesh. Lack of protection beyond their community, financial constraints, and restricted access to wealth were identified as key factors limiting Muslim educational advancement.
The discussion underscored the need for international attention to address the worsening situation of Indian Muslims.
Professor Jaffrelot’s insights portrayed a troubling narrative of systemic challenges faced by the minority community, prompting calls for concerted efforts to address issues of discrimination and marginalization in India.
