Hindu right-wing groups in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, held a large protest demanding the demolition of an under-construction mosque in Sanjauli. The protest followed an attack on a businessman allegedly by members of the Muslim community. The state government has acknowledged the ongoing legal dispute regarding the mosque’s construction and promised action against any illegalities.
In the midst of Kerala’s Lok Sabha election campaign, the telecast of a controversial film titled “The Kerala Story” has sparked controversy and highlighted underlying tensions between the Christian and Muslim communities. The film, which critics claim seeks to tarnish the state and its Muslims, has been questioned by both the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), while some Christian groups have organized their own screenings. This incident highlights a broader pattern of demographic shifts and uneven population growth across religious communities in Kerala, with the Pathanamthitta district serving as a case study. Despite the overall decline in population growth across the state, there are variations in the total fertility rate (TFR) among different communities. While Kerala’s overall TFR is 1.79, Christians have a TFR of 1.77, Hindus of 1.53, and Muslims of 2.25. These demographic shifts, along with social factors and changing economic dynamics, influence political equations and the strategies of parties like the BJP, which seeks to build a coalition based on shared insecurities.
