‘힌두의 인도’: 인도 민주주의 위협?

Abstract

The ruling party, the BJP, is actively promoting and advertising the completion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in anticipation of the 2024 general elections. There is significant interest in whether Prime Minister Modi, who has been advocating for the creation of a 'Hindu India' for the past decade, will secure his third consecutive term. The Modi government's construction of a 'Hindu India' was meticulously planned and actively endorsed. Consequently, India's standing in the democracy and freedom index, as well as the democratic quality index of six internationally recognized institutions, has experienced a decline. The challenge lies in the fact that a majority of the Indian population supports the construction of a 'Hindu India' pursued by the Modi government. In this context, this article aims to explore how the Indian people's support for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP can be received and interpreted in the context of democracy. Additionally, the article examines whether there are any issues with the concept of 'people's rule,' wherein the construction of 'Hindu India' according to the will of the majority, as revealed in the election results. The analysis has confirmed a disturbing trend of increasing oppression and repression against Muslims, especially in a context where secular political forces, represented by the INC, are waning and unable to counterbalance Hindu fundamentalist political forces like the BJP. Despite the Modi government coming to power through a democratic general election within a multi-party system, there is a clear and present risk of majority tyranny that threatens the freedom of minorities, including Muslims. This risk is exacerbated by a situation where criticism of vital policy-making processes, such as the construction of a "Hindu India," is stifled. The Modi government, disregarding the will of the Muslim minority, has taken actions such as revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, transforming it into Union territories, enacting the New Citizenship Act, and constructing the Ram Temple on the site where the Babri Mosque was demolished. These policies, aimed at shaping a 'Hindu India,' should be denounced as undemocratic practices. Consequently, India must work towards restoring a pluralistic democracy while upholding the principle of cultural relativism, as it has done in the past. The choices made by the Indian people in the 2024 general election will determine the future trajectory of Indian democracy.