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US Intelligence report says that there is a possibility of communal violence in India if the party in the Bharatiya Janata Party stresses upon Hindu nationalist themes before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections this year.

These comments made by US Intelligence community’s assessment of worldwide threats in the year 2019.

Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, presented this following document to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“Parliamentary elections in India increase the possibility of communal violence if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata (BJP) stresses Hindu nationalist themes,” Coats told to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

The members of American intelligence agencies appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to present their document on Worldwide threat assessment.

In a written statement Coats said “BJP policies during Modi’s first term have deepened communal tensions in some BJP ruling states, and Hindu nationalist state leaders might view a Hindu nationalist campaign as a signal to incite low-level violence to animate their supporters.”

“Increasing communal clashes could alienate Indian Muslims and allow Islamist terrorist groups in India to expand their influence,” Coats warned ahead of the general election. The five-year term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends in May. The entire process of election and formation of the new parliament needs to be completed by May.

Coats also warns of a strained India-Pakistan relationship at least till May. “We judge that cross border terrorism, firing across the Line of Control , divisive national elections in India, and Islamabad’s perception of its position with the United States relative to India will contribute to strained India and Pakistan relations at least through May 2019, the deadline for the Indian election, and probably beyond,” he said.

“Despite limited confidence-building measures such as both countries recommitting in May 2018 to the 2003 ceasefire along the disputed Kashmir border continued terrorist attacks and cross-border firing in Kashmir have hardened each country’s position and reduced their political will to seek rapprochement,” he said.

It said “Political manoeuvring resulting from the Indian national elections probably will further constrain near-term opportunities for improving ties.” 

-Sai Kumar