ICC Note:

After the recent elections, India’s political landscape seems to be shifting right-ward towards a more radical official position. Observers are concerned that inflammatory anti-minority sentiment from leaders like Yogi Adityanath will foster more violent reactions and attacks. Time will tell about the role of a more nationalistic leader in facilitating relationships between the majority Hindu citizens and the other minorities, including Christianity and Islam.

3/21/2017 India(New York Times) – India’s governing party on Saturday appointed a firebrand Hindu cleric to lead the country’s most populous state, a turning point for a government that has, until now, steered clear of openly embracing far-right Hindu causes.

The choice of Yogi Adityanath – who has been repeatedly accused of stirring anti-Muslim sentiments – to lead Uttar Pradesh, came as a shock to many political observers here, who have become accustomed to the carefully moderated public positions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with his projected image as a pro-development leader and global statesman.

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