Is India turning into a larger, Hindu version of Pakistan?

[Indy Texas]

The government recently caused a stir by revoking the Christmas Day holiday, which was a holdover from the British Raj and was considered a secular holiday by most Indians and a nod to the country's tradition of religious pluralism.

Now, India's government is seeking to block a number of major websites, including GitHub and Vimeo.

Between this and lip service to Hindu nationalist and far-right causes in the country, is India becoming more like its arch-rival Pakistan -- a country where religious conservatism, arbitrary proscription of civil liberties and an ersatz version of free market economics trump functioning democracy?

[Famous Mortimer]

What's their reason for banning the sites?

[Indy Texas]

No, India still has a long way down to go to resemble anything like Pakistan.

The government recently caused a stir by revoking the Christmas Day holiday, which was a holdover from the British Raj and was considered a secular holiday by most Indians and a nod to the country's tradition of religious pluralism.

Also, where are you seeing this? From what I'm seeing on the news, it was just a proposal to keep schools open and that government officials and workers will not be protected from having to work on December 25th.

If you're telling people they have to go to school/work that day, then it's no longer a holiday.

[joevsimp]

why ban GitHub of all sites?

[RR1997]

The possible banning of the websites is disgusting. Modi and the BJP are also disgusting, escpecially since Hinduism is arguably not meant to be a fundamentalistic religion.

I also have to agree with Clarko95. Saying that India is becoming the next Pakistan is a huge stretch.  India isn't that bad. India has also had Sikh and Muslim presidents.

[TDAS04]

No.  

It's never made sense to single out India for persecution of religious minorities.  The previous PM was Sikh, and India has had Sikh and Muslim presidents.  Certainly, the US is no position to lecture a country that has had members of its Muslim minority serve at the highest levels of government.

India is very flawed indeed, and needs to clean up on many issues.  There is the massive poverty and unimpressive infrastructure.  Caste remains a problem, women's rights need to be protected more effectively, and there is the religious conflict.  However, since India is such a diverse country with such a massive population, some ethnic and religious skirmishes are sadly inevitable.  Yet, India deserves credit for functioning and for generally remaining a pluralistic democracy.

While the rhetoric and many of the priorities of the Hindu nationalists are troublesome, non-Hindus in India will continue to enjoy far more rights than non-Muslims in Pakistan.  At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

[RR1997]

No.  

It's never made sense to single out India for persecution of religious minorities.  The previous PM was Sikh, and India has had Sikh and Muslim presidents.  Certainly, the US is no position to lecture a country that has had members of its Muslim minority serve at the highest levels of government.

India is very flawed indeed, and needs to clean up on many issues.  There is the massive poverty and unimpressive infrastructure.  Caste remains a problem, women's rights need to be protected more effectively, and there is the religious conflict.  However, since India is such a diverse country with such a massive population, some ethnic and religious skirmishes are sadly inevitable.  Yet, India deserves credit for functioning and for generally remaining a pluralistic democracy.

While the rhetoric and many of the priorities of the Hindu nationalists are troublesome, non-Hindus in India will continue to enjoy far more rights than non-Muslims in Pakistan.  At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

^

[MaxQue]

But, but, but...!

Modi is the Saviour which will turn around and save India economy.

[morgieb]

India has a lot to do before it becomes Pakistan.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

[politicus]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

The human rights situation is also worse across the board in Pakistan incl. oppression of women (Pakistan is ranked the second worst country in the world to be a woman by the UN) and religious minorities. Pakistan has a stronger economy, which is of course crucial, but as a "model" for a society it is worse than Bangladesh. So in that sense TDAs analogy makes sense.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

The human rights situation is also worse across the board in Pakistan incl. oppression of women (Pakistan is ranked the second worst country in the world to be a woman by the UN) and religious minorities. Pakistan has a stronger economy, which is of course crucial, but as a "model" for a society it is worse than Bangladesh. So in that sense TDAs analogy makes sense.

Pakistan is not in existential danger from rising sea levels, nor is it just a massive sweatshop.

[politicus]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

The human rights situation is also worse across the board in Pakistan incl. oppression of women (Pakistan is ranked the second worst country in the world to be a woman by the UN) and religious minorities. Pakistan has a stronger economy, which is of course crucial, but as a "model" for a society it is worse than Bangladesh. So in that sense TDAs analogy makes sense.

Pakistan is not in existential danger from rising sea levels, nor is it just a massive sweatshop.

You seem to have misse the entire point of my post.

Again, if you say "a Hindu version of Bangladesh" that does not refer to geography or economy, but to political system, legal system, human rights etc. and as bad as things are in Bangladesh on these areas they are worse in Pakistan.

[TDAS04]

Politicus understood what I meant. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

It makes literally no sense as India is also a nuclear state with a domestic terrorism problem.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

The human rights situation is also worse across the board in Pakistan incl. oppression of women (Pakistan is ranked the second worst country in the world to be a woman by the UN) and religious minorities. Pakistan has a stronger economy, which is of course crucial, but as a "model" for a society it is worse than Bangladesh. So in that sense TDAs analogy makes sense.

Pakistan is not in existential danger from rising sea levels, nor is it just a massive sweatshop.

You seem to have misse the entire point of my post.

Again, if you say "a Hindu version of Bangladesh" that does not refer to geography or economy, but to political system, legal system, human rights etc. and as bad as things are in Bangladesh on these areas they are worse in Pakistan.

Except that basic living standards actually matter. That a country is a vibrant and open democracy means little if it's also dirt-poor and sinking into the ocean.

[politicus]

At worst, India is becoming a Hindu version of Bangladesh, but even that might be a stretch.

You are aware that - terrorism and other political violence aside - that would actually be substantially worse than being a Hindu version of Pakistan, yes?

The human rights situation is also worse across the board in Pakistan incl. oppression of women (Pakistan is ranked the second worst country in the world to be a woman by the UN) and religious minorities. Pakistan has a stronger economy, which is of course crucial, but as a "model" for a society it is worse than Bangladesh. So in that sense TDAs analogy makes sense.

Pakistan is not in existential danger from rising sea levels, nor is it just a massive sweatshop.

You seem to have misse the entire point of my post.

Again, if you say "a Hindu version of Bangladesh" that does not refer to geography or economy, but to political system, legal system, human rights etc. and as bad as things are in Bangladesh on these areas they are worse in Pakistan.

Except that basic living standards actually matter. That a country is a vibrant and open democracy means little if it's also dirt-poor and sinking into the ocean.

Of course they do, but that is beside the point here. Do you not understand the concept of an analogy?

[politicus]

It makes literally no sense as India is also a nuclear state with a domestic terrorism problem.

Which they have so far handled better than Pakistan and without abolishing their democracy.

[Simfan34]

Except that basic living standards actually matter. That a country is a vibrant and open democracy means little if it's also dirt-poor and sinking into the ocean.

"Finally, someone who gets it!"