Opinion: At the end of a vitriolic campaign, what price will India’s Muslims pay?

Voting has finally concluded in the marathon election that has stretched on for over 12 weeks. Starting at a point where it seemed a foregone conclusion that the Bharatiya Janata Party would return to power for a third term, the election is coming to a close on a more uncertain note. The opposition INDIA alliance has expressed equal confidence in being able to form the government. June 4, when votes are counted and results announced, will set to rest the uncertainties.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections have been marred by serious irregularities and the systemic failure of the election authorities. But what really characterises this election is the fact that the BJP Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned it into a referendum on Muslims and their place in India.

The BJP has had little else to say to the electorate, either about its past performance or its vision for the future. Since April 21, Modi has, in his almost daily appearances at election rallies, directed a barrage of hate speech, conspiracies and accusations against India’s Muslims.

He has referred to the community as “infiltrators”, those “with many children” and “jihadis” and other derisions. He falsely accused the Congress of “appeasing” Muslims at the cost of other Indians, even claiming...

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