Rights group documents violence, economic boycotts, demolitions, and state inaction under BJP rule
NEW DELHI — The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), a prominent civil liberties organisation, on Wednesday released a detailed report documenting what it described as a growing and disturbing pattern of violence, displacement, and systematic exclusion faced by Muslim communities in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand.
The 56-page report, titled “Excluded, Targeted and Displaced: Communal Narratives and Violence in Uttarakhand,” warns that hate-driven politics in the hill state has led to serious human rights violations and a gradual but sustained erosion of constitutional protections.
The report was released at a press conference at the Press Club of India, attended by legal experts, journalists, former bureaucrats, and human rights activists. Speakers cautioned that developments in Uttarakhand reflect a broader trend of majoritarian politics, where state power, vigilante groups, and administrative actions are allegedly being used to marginalise an entire community.
Those who addressed the media included former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung; senior advocate and rights defender Prashant Bhushan; activist and former IAS officer Harsh Mander; senior journalist Saba Naqvi; former Uttarakhand minister Yaqoob Siddiqi; journalists and researchers Kaushik Raj, Srishti Jaswal, and Shadab Alam; and activists Khurshid Ahmed, Latafat Hussain, and Fawaz Shaheen.
Human rights activist Harsh Mander described the current model of governance in Uttarakhand as “deeply anti-constitutional.” He cautioned against projecting the state as a “devbhoomi” where non-Hindus are implicitly or explicitly unwelcome. “This vision is incompatible with the Constitution,” he said. “Resisting it and restoring constitutional morality is the responsibility of every Indian.”
Former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung questioned the intent behind demolitions and targeted actions against Muslim settlements and businesses. “Is this really about law and order, or is it about ethnic cleansing?” he asked. Jung stressed the need to protect women, children, and the elderly, and urged young people to hold governments and police accountable. He warned that unemployment and relentless propaganda were pushing sections of the youth towards hatred and violence.
Senior journalist Saba Naqvi challenged the narrative that society as a whole has embraced communal hatred. “Was everyone radicalised by one dharam sansad?” she asked. Emphasising the role of education and dialogue, she noted that many people now conceal their identities simply to work, rent homes, or study in peace.
Presenting findings from APCR’s fact-finding visits and ground-level documentation, journalist Kaushik Raj traced the recent escalation of violence and intimidation to the December 2021 dharam sansad held in Haridwar. Since then, he said, there has been a marked rise in threats, economic boycotts, and targeted harassment of Muslim residents across several districts. “A clear and identifiable pattern has emerged,” Raj said, citing instances where Muslim shopkeepers were forced to flee overnight after being threatened or labelled as illegal occupants.
Raj emphasised that many affected families have lived in the region for over five or six decades, long before Uttarakhand became a separate state in 2000. “These are not outsiders,” he said, adding that their contributions as small traders, workers, and service providers are integral to the local economy.
Highlighting the contradiction between everyday social interactions and rising communal hostility, Raj shared an anecdote of a Muslim dry-cleaner who confronted a Hindu customer after seeing him participate in anti-Muslim slogans. “Aap toh mere khilaaf naare laga rahe thhe,” the shopkeeper said, to which the customer replied, “Aapka kaam achha hai.” The exchange, Raj noted, illustrated how lived relationships are increasingly being overshadowed by manufactured hatred.
Journalist Srishti Jaswal said the violence and intimidation were no longer confined to isolated areas. “What began in Uttarkashi has now spread to Chamoli and other districts,” she said. Under the pretext of checking illegality, she added, genuine citizens are facing social exclusion, physical violence, and economic devastation. “As a Hindu and an Indian, I feel ashamed that this is happening,” she said, describing a pervasive climate of fear.
Shadab Alam, a resident of Uttarakhand, criticised the state government’s priorities, arguing that religious polarisation has replaced governance. “Unemployment, out-migration, and lack of development are the real issues facing Uttarakhand,” he said. “Instead of addressing these, the government has chosen to fixate on Muslims.”
Echoing this concern, long-time resident Khurshid Ahmed spoke about the growing sense of insecurity among Muslim families. “People are afraid to reveal their names, afraid to run their shops, afraid to exist openly,” he said. “Faith is being weaponised to deny people dignity and safety in their own home.”
Placing the current crisis in historical context, Latafat Hussain of the Uttarakhand Andolan reminded the audience that the state was formed through the collective sacrifices of all communities. “Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaai—sab ki qurbani thi,” he said. He argued that hate campaigns are being used to divert public anger from issues such as inadequate healthcare, lack of employment opportunities, and large-scale migration from the hills. “Uttarakhand was once known for its social harmony and shared struggle,” he said, calling for renewed efforts to reclaim that plural legacy.
Former Uttarakhand minister Yaqoob Siddiqi recounted his arrest without a warrant in 2019 on what he described as false charges. Questioning the growing power of vigilante groups, he asked, “Who gave them the right to stop people and ask their names?” Calling for resistance rooted in humanity, he said, “Insaniyat ko zinda rakhne ki jung ladni padegi.”
Concluding the conference, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan alleged that the violence in Uttarakhand is being orchestrated by political organisations with the support of state machinery, sections of the media, and investigative agencies. He called for the formation of communal peace committees in every district and urged citizens to build a “volunteer truth army” to counter organised hate and misinformation. He also underlined that the judiciary has, by and large, failed to protect the rights of affected communities.
The APCR report concludes that fear, intimidation, and displacement have become routine for many Muslims in Uttarakhand, even as constitutional safeguards are increasingly ignored. The conference ended with a collective call to defend equality, dignity, and the right to belong—values guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
