A disturbing incident took place at Gujarat University on March 17, 2024, as a group of foreign students faced a violent attack while engaged in prayer within their hostel premises. The attackers, who purportedly belonged to the Hindutva ideology, engaged in an assault, resulting in the injury of five students.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, the assailants, alleged BJP supporters armed with sticks and machetes, barged into the hostel, targeting Muslim students and wreaking havoc in their rooms. Foreign students from Sri Lanka and Tajikistan bore the brunt of the violence, with some sustaining severe injuries and requiring hospitalization, as detailed by CNN.
#Attack on foreign students praying at #GujaratUniversity!
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) March 21, 2024
The physical assault on #worshipers by #extremists under Modi's regime are #appalling.
The facade of #secularism has been shattered, exposing the truth of persecution. #SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/RkGzLlF9v2
Recalling the terrifying ordeal, one of the Afghan students lamented, "More than 250 BJP miscreants attacked us during the Namaz chanting 'Jai Shri Ram,' and also damaged the hostel property." The attackers spared no mercy, even vandalizing personal belongings such as laptops, phones, and motorcycles.
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In the wake of the incident, Gujarat University's vice chancellor drew criticism for downplaying the severity of the issue, attributing it to the need for international students to undergo cultural sensitivity training.
Opposition parties were swift to condemn the BJP government, attributing the escalation of violence to what they described as Modi's extremist policies, which they argue have disproportionately affected minorities including Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, as reported by BBC.
Highlighting a pattern of religious intolerance, a Congress leader recalled previous instances of Hindu extremist groups targeting Muslims for practicing their faith in public spaces.
Read more: Foreign students attacked in India's Gujarat over Ramadan prayers
The deterioration of religious freedom under Modi's regime also drew international attention, with the head of the US Commission on Religious Freedom expressing concern over the escalating violence.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation from the international media, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and measures to safeguard religious minorities in India.
With the specter of a possible victory for the Modi government in the recent elections looming, concerns mount over the potential further entrenchment of Hindutva ideology, as highlighted by The Economist.
Critics have decried the Modi government's exploitation of religion for political gain, decrying its involvement in acts of hooliganism and terrorism against Muslims as a betrayal of India's secular principles.
