Rise of Hindu extremism rattles world's largest democracy

Numerous incidents of violence in 2011 were attributed to Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), two groups which are considered close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The groups share an overarching ideology of "Hindutva" -- or cultural nationalism -- that at its most violent espouses the expulsion of all non-Hindus from India and strict adherence to Hindu ideals by all Indian citizens.

According to Ravindra Singh, who heads the Jharkand chapter of the National Human Rights Commission, the phenomenon threatens the fabric of India's multiethnic democracy.

"While India has always been subject to Islamic onslaughts, the rise of Hindu fundamentalists have wrecked the country further, shredding the social fabric and devastating the economy," he told Khabar South Asia.

A spate of incidents occurred during 2011, including the December 18th assault on a Christian pastor in Pillanna Garden, near Lingarajpuram, Bangalore. He was beaten by Hindus, then arrested and charged with "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings."

Such incidents tend to pick up around the Christian holy day of Christmas. In one such case, Hindu extremists entered a church in Kadaloor district (Tamil Nadu) on December 22nd and threatened the congregation and pastor before burning the church to the ground