Editing Bharatiya Janata Party (section)

== History ==
=== Formation and early days ===
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Although the newly formed BJP was technically distinct from the Jana Sangh, the bulk of its rank and file were identical to its predecessor, with Vajpayee being its first president.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2020 |orig-date=7 April 1980 |title=Forty years ago, April 7, 1980: BJP is born |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/forty-years-ago-april-7-1980-bjp-is-born-6350456/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412160225/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/forty-years-ago-april-7-1980-bjp-is-born-6350456/ |archive-date=12 April 2021 |access-date=12 April 2021 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Historian [[Ramachandra Guha]] writes that the early 1980s were marked by a wave of violence between Hindus and Muslims. The BJP initially moderated the [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] stance of its predecessor the Jana Sangh to gain a wider appeal, emphasising its links to the Janata Party and the ideology of [[Gandhian socialism]].{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} This was unsuccessful, as it won only two [[Lok Sabha]] seats in the [[1984 Indian general election|elections of 1984]].{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}} The only two candidates of the party who won were [[A. K. Patel]] from [[Mehsana Lok Sabha constituency]] in [[Gujarat]] and [[C. Janga Reddy]] from [[Hanamkonda Lok Sabha constituency]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="founders" /> The [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] a few months earlier resulted in a wave of support for the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] which won a record tally of 414 seats, contributing to the low number for the BJP.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=579}}

=== Ram Janmabhoomi movement ===
{{Main|Ram Rath Yatra}}
{{Further|Ayodhya dispute|Demolition of the Babri Masjid}}
[[File:Advani Yatra 1990.svg|thumb|[[Ram Rath Yatra]]]]
The failure of Vajpayee's moderate strategy led to a shift in the ideology of the party toward a policy of more hardline Hindu nationalism.{{sfn|Malik|Singh|1992|pp=318–336}}{{sfn|Pai|1996|pp=1170–1183}} In 1984, Advani was appointed president of the party, and under him it became the political voice of the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] movement. In the early 1980s, the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] (VHP) began a campaign for the construction of a [[Ram Mandir|temple]] dedicated to the Hindu deity [[Rama]] at the [[Ayodhya dispute|disputed site]] of the [[Babri Masjid|Babri Mosque]] in [[Ayodhya]]. The mosque had been constructed by the Mughal Emperor [[Babur]] in 1527. There is a dispute about whether a temple once stood there.{{sfn|Jha|2003}} The agitation was on the basis of the belief that the site is the birthplace of Rama, and that a temple had been demolished to construct the mosque.{{sfn|Flint|2005|p=165}} The BJP threw its support behind this campaign and made it a part of their election platform. It won 86 [[Lok Sabha]] seats in 1989, a tally which made its support crucial to the [[Third Front (India)#National Front (1989–1991)|National Front]] government of [[V. P. Singh]].{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=582–598}}

In September 1990, Advani began a ''[[Ratha Yatra|Rath Yatra]]'' (chariot journey) to Ayodhya in support of the Ram temple movement. According to Guha, the imagery employed by the ''yatra'' was "religious, allusive, militant, masculine, and anti-Muslim".{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=635}} Advani was placed under preventive detention on the orders of the then [[Bihar]] chief minister [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]. A large number of ''[[Sevā|kar sevaks]]'' (religious volunteers) nonetheless converged at Ayodhya, and some attacked the mosque. Three days of fighting with the paramilitary forces ended with the deaths of several ''kar sevaks''. Hindus were urged by VHP to "take revenge" for these deaths, resulting in riots against Muslims across Uttar Pradesh.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=636}} The BJP withdrew its support from the V.P. Singh government, leading to fresh general elections. The BJP further increased its tally to 120 seats, and won a majority in the [[Uttar Pradesh]] assembly.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}}

On 6 December 1992, the RSS and its affiliates organised a rally involving more than 100,000 VHP and BJP activists at the site of the mosque.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} The rally developed into a frenzied attack that ended with the [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|demolition of the mosque]].{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} Over the following weeks, waves of violence between Hindus and Muslims erupted all over the country, killing over 2,000 people.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} The government briefly banned the VHP, and many BJP leaders, including Advani were arrested for making inflammatory speeches provoking the demolition.{{sfn|NDTV|2012}}{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} Several historians have said that the demolition was the product of a conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar, and not a spontaneous act.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=633–659}} In the parliamentary elections in 1996, the BJP capitalised on the communal polarisation that followed the demolition to win 161 Lok Sabha seats, making it the largest party in parliament.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}} Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister but was unable to attain a majority in the Lok Sabha, forcing the government to resign after 13 days.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}}

A [[Liberhan Commission|2009 report]], authored by Justice [[Manmohan Singh Liberhan]], found that 68 people were responsible for the demolition, mostly leaders from the BJP.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} Among those named were Vajpayee, Advani, and [[Murli Manohar Joshi]]. The report also criticised [[Kalyan Singh]], Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh during the demolition.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} He was accused of posting bureaucrats and police officers who would stay silent during the demolition.{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2009}} In 2020, the [[Supreme Court of India]] acquitted all of the accused in the demolition including Advani and Joshi.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 September 2020 |title=All acquitted in Babri Masjid demolition case: Advani, MM Joshi hail verdict, Congress wants govt to appeal against it |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195725/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece |archive-date=12 April 2021 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Following the [[2019 Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute|2019 Supreme Court verdict]], the [[Government of India]] announced a trust to construct the Mandir. On 22 January 2024, the [[Ram Mandir]] was officially opened.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=Ram Temple inauguration: Advent of a new era, says PM Modi |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/advent-of-a-new-era-says-pm-101705947809336.html |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] led its consecration, claiming it to be the start of a new era.<ref name=":0" /> The temple is expected to be fully completed by September 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Afzhal Khan |first=Arshad |date=2024-11-09 |title=Ayodhya's Ram temple to take 3 more months, to be completed by September 2025 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/ram-temple-completion-delayed-until-september-2025-due-to-stone-carver-shortage/articleshow/115095899.cms |access-date=2025-02-10 |work=[[The Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

=== Vajpayee and Advani era (1996–2004) ===
{{further|National Democratic Alliance}}

A coalition of regional parties formed the government in 1996, but this grouping was short-lived, and mid-term polls were held in 1998. The BJP contested the elections leading a coalition called the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), which contained its existing allies like the [[Samata Party]], the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], the [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] in addition to the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) and the [[Biju Janata Dal]]. Among these regional parties, the Shiv Sena was the only one that had an ideology similar to the BJP; [[Amartya Sen]], for example, called the coalition an "ad hoc" grouping.{{sfn|Sen|2005|p=254}} The NDA had a majority with outside support from the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) and Vajpayee returned as Prime Minister.{{sfn|rediff.com|1998}} However, the coalition ruptured in May 1999 when the leader of AIADMK, [[J. Jayalalithaa]], withdrew her support, and fresh elections were held again.{{sfn|Outlook|2013}}

On 13 October 1999, without the AIADMK, the NDA won 303 seats in parliament and thus an outright majority. The BJP had its highest-ever tally of 183. Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the third time; Advani became Deputy Prime Minister{{efn|in 2002}} and [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Affairs Minister]]. This NDA government lasted its full term of five years. Its policy agenda included a more aggressive stance on defence and terror and [[Neoliberalism|neo-liberal]] economic policies.{{sfn|Sen|2005|pp=251–272}} In 2001, [[Bangaru Laxman]], then the BJP president, was filmed accepting a bribe in [[Operation West End|a sting operation]].{{sfn|Kattakayam|2012}}{{sfn|India Today|2001}} He was compelled to resign and was subsequently prosecuted, eventually being sentenced to four years in prison.{{sfn|Tehelka|2001}}

==== 2002 Gujarat violence ====
{{Main|2002 Gujarat violence}}
On 27 February 2002, a [[Godhra train burning|train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned]] outside the town of [[Godhra]], killing 59 people. The incident was seen as an attack upon Hindus, and sparked off massive anti-Muslim violence across the state of [[Gujarat]] that lasted several weeks.{{sfn|Ghassem-Fachandi|2012|pp=1–31}} The death toll estimated was as high as 2000, while 150,000 were displaced.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}} Rape, mutilation, and torture were also widespread.{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2013|p=16}}{{sfn|Harris|2012}} The then-Gujarat chief minister [[Narendra Modi]] and several high-ranking government officials were accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police officers who allegedly directed the rioters and gave them lists of Muslim-owned properties.{{sfn|Krishnan|2012}} In April 2009, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate and expedite the Gujarat riots cases. In 2012, Modi was cleared of complicity in the violence by the SIT. BJP [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] [[Maya Kodnani]], who later held a cabinet portfolio in the Modi government, was convicted of having orchestrated one of the riots and sentenced to 28 years imprisonment;{{sfn|Hindustan Times|2014}}{{sfn|NDTV.com|2012}} she was later acquitted by the [[Gujarat High Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 April 2018 |title=Naroda Patiya verdict: Gujarat HC acquits Maya Kodnani, commutes Babu Bajrangi's sentence |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20 |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229064652/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/naroda-patiya-case-gujarat-hc-acquits-maya-kodnani-upholds-babu-bajrangi-s-conviction-1216228-2018-04-20 |archive-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> Scholars such as [[Paul Brass]], [[Martha Nussbaum]] and [[Dipankar Gupta]] have said that there was a high level of state complicity in the incidents.{{sfn|Brass|2005|pp=385–393}}{{sfn|Gupta|2011|p=252}}{{sfn|Nussbaum|2008|p=2}}

=== In opposition (2004–2014) ===
Vajpayee called for [[2004 Indian general election|early elections in 2004]], six months ahead of schedule. The NDA's campaign was based on the slogan "[[India Shining]]", which sought to depict it as responsible for a rapid economic transformation of the country.{{sfn|Ramesh|2004}} However, the NDA unexpectedly suffered a heavy defeat, winning only 186 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]], compared to the 222 of the Congress and its allies. [[Manmohan Singh]] succeeded Vajpayee as Prime Minister as the head of the [[United Progressive Alliance]]. The NDA's failure to reach out to rural Indians was provided as an explanation for its defeat, as was its divisive policy agenda.{{sfn|Ramesh|2004}}{{sfn|The Hindu|2004}}

In May 2008, the BJP won the [[2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|state elections in Karnataka]]. This was the first time that the party won assembly elections in any [[South India]]n state. In the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general elections]], its strength in the Lok Sabha was reduced to 116 seats. The election campaign would be the final for Advani as leader. The party would be led by [[Arun Jaitley]] in the Rajya Sabha and [[Sushma Swaraj]] in the Lok Sabha for the following 5 years. It lost the [[2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka assembly election]] in 2013.{{sfn|Hindustan Times|2009}}

=== Modi era (2014–present) ===
{{Main|Premiership of Narendra Modi}}
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| caption1  = [[Narendra Modi]], Prime Minister of India since 2014
| image2    = Amit Shah photographed during the first Union Cabinet Meeting of the 18th Lok Sabha (cropped).jpg
| caption2  = [[Amit Shah]] has been the longest (continuous) serving [[List of presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|National President]] of the BJP
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In the [[2014 Indian general election]], the BJP won 282 seats, leading the NDA to a tally of 336 seats in the 543-seat Lok Sabha.{{sfn|Mathew|2014}} Narendra Modi was sworn in as the 14th [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister of India]] on 26 May 2014.{{sfn|Deccan Chronicle|2014}}{{sfn|BBC|May|2014}} The vote share of the BJP was 31% of all votes cast, a low figure relative to the number of seats it won.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} This was the first instance since 1984 of a single party achieving an outright majority in the Indian Parliament{{sfn|Times of India|2014}} and the first time that it achieved a majority in the Lok Sabha on its own strength. Support was concentrated in the [[Hindi Belt|Hindi-speaking belt]] in North-central India.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} The magnitude of the victory was not predicted by most opinion and exit polls.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}}

Political analysts have suggested several reasons for this victory, including the popularity of Modi, and the loss of support for the Congress due to the corruption scandals in its previous term.{{sfn|Diwakar|2014}} The BJP was also able to expand its traditionally upper-caste, upper-class support base and received significant support from middle-class and [[Dalit]] people, as well as among [[Other Backward Class]]es.{{sfn|Varshney|2014}}{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} Its support among Muslims remained low; only 8% of Muslim voters voted for the BJP.{{sfn|Varshney|2014}}{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}} The BJP was also very successful at mobilizing its supporters and raising voter turnout among them.{{sfn|Sridharan|2014}}

After winning the election, the organisation of the BJP became more centralised with Modi at the helm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Suhit K. |title=BJP, which mocks Congress, has fallen prey to extreme centralisation |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/bjp-which-mocks-congress-has-fallen-prey-to-extreme-centralisation-2810695 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214100233/https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/bjp-which-mocks-congress-has-fallen-prey-to-extreme-centralisation-2810695 |url-status=live }}</ref> People loyal to Modi were rewarded leadership positions across various states within India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=All the PM's people: How Modi is shaping BJP organisationally, redefining 'party democracy' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/pm-modi-bjp-narendra-modi-amit-shah-9073105/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214100233/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/pm-modi-bjp-narendra-modi-amit-shah-9073105/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Amit Shah]], a close confidant of Modi, was appointed as the president of the BJP in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amit Shah's elevation as BJP President signals a generational change and Modi's complete takeover of the party |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20140728-amit-shah-elevation-bjp-president-modi-complete-takeover-of-party-804609-2014-07-17 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=India Today |date=17 July 2014 |language=en |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214101707/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20140728-amit-shah-elevation-bjp-president-modi-complete-takeover-of-party-804609-2014-07-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> Contextually, many veteran leaders of the party like [[L. K. Advani|Lal Krishna Advani]], [[Murli Manohar Joshi]], and [[Jaswant Singh]] amongst others were allegedly sidelined.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chaturvedi |first=Rakesh Mohan |date=2014-03-22 |title=Narendra Modi sidelines old guard in BJP; Jaswant Singh gearing up to contest from Barmer as Independent |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/narendra-modi-sidelines-old-guard-in-bjp-jaswant-singh-gearing-up-to-contest-from-barmer-as-independent/articleshow/32441833.cms |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214101707/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/narendra-modi-sidelines-old-guard-in-bjp-jaswant-singh-gearing-up-to-contest-from-barmer-as-independent/articleshow/32441833.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, the BJP joined the [[International Democracy Union|International Democratic Union]], a grouping of various [[List of right-wing political parties|centre-right and right-wing]] political parties across the globe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pillalamarri |first=Akhilesh |title=India's Bharatiya Janata Party Joins Union of International Conservative Parties |url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/indias-bharatiya-janata-party-joins-union-of-international-conservative-parties/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225011058/https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/indias-bharatiya-janata-party-joins-union-of-international-conservative-parties/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, as of 2024, the party is no longer a member, the secretary general of the IDU, Tina Mercep, stated that they would welcome full membership of the BJP in their global network. However, [[Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha|BJP's youth organisation]] remains a member of the youth wing of the IDU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Stephen Harper's Global Alliance of Conservative Parties Quietly Scrubbed India Off Its Website |url=https://pressprogress.ca/stephen-harpers-global-alliance-of-conservative-parties-quietly-scrubbed-india-off-its-website/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=PressProgress |language=en |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214095121/https://pressprogress.ca/stephen-harpers-global-alliance-of-conservative-parties-quietly-scrubbed-india-off-its-website/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BJP Conspicuous by Absence from Global Centre-Right Political Parties' Alliance |url=https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-conspicuous-by-absence-from-global-centre-right-political-parties-alliance |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref>

During Modi's first term as prime minister, the BJP expanded its presence in several states where it had previously been a minor player, and it regained power in other states where it had been in opposition for a considerable period. [[Assam]], [[Tripura]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Haryana]], and [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] saw an increase in the BJP's influence, and the party entered government in several of these states.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karmakar |first=Rahul |date=2018-12-31 |title=2018 was a landmark year for BJP, women in Northeast |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/2018-was-a-landmark-year-for-bjp-women-in-northeast/article25875880.ece |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214103448/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/2018-was-a-landmark-year-for-bjp-women-in-northeast/article25875880.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, the BJP won the general election with an increased majority. Soon after returning to power, on 5 August 2019, the [[Second Modi ministry|Modi administration]] revoked the special status, or [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India#Autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir: Structure and limitations|limited autonomy]], granted under [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|Article 370]] of the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]] to [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]—a region administered by [[India]] as a state. This state consists of the larger part of Kashmir which has been the subject of a dispute among India, [[Pakistan]], and [[China]] since 1947.<ref name="britannica-jammu-kashmir">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Jammu and Kashmir, State, India |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu-and-Kashmir |access-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820091609/https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu-and-Kashmir |archive-date=20 August 2019 |quote=Jammu and Kashmir, state of India, located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent in the vicinity of the Karakoram and westernmost Himalayan mountain ranges. The state is part of the larger region of Kashmir, which has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. |last2=Kirk |first2=William |last1=Akhtar |first1=Rais |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jan·OsmanczykOsmańczyk2003">{{Cite book |last=Osmańczyk |first=Edmund Jan |title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-415-93922-5 |editor-last=Mango |editor-first=Anthony |edition=3rd |volume=2: G–M |page=1189 |chapter=Jammu and Kashmir. |quote=Territory in northwestern India, subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China. |author-link=Edmund Osmańczyk |access-date=16 June 2020 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1189 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414061302/https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1189 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Later in 2019, the Modi administration introduced the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019]], which was passed by the [[Parliament of India]] on 11 December 2019. It amended the [[Indian nationality law|Citizenship Act, 1955]] by providing a path to Indian citizenship for illegal immigrants of [[Hindus|Hindu]], [[Sikhs|Sikh]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Jainism|Jain]], [[Parsis|Parsi]], or [[Christians|Christian]] religion, who had [[Religious discrimination in Pakistan|fled persecution]] from [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Afghanistan]] before December 2014.<ref name="BBC explained">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-50670393 Citizenship Amendment Bill: India's new 'anti-Muslim' law explained] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212192621/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50670393 |date=12 December 2019 }}, BBC News, 11 December 2019.</ref><ref name="PIBPassesBill">{{Cite web |title=Parliament passes the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=195783 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216092712/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx%3Frelid%3D195783 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> [[Muslims]] from those countries were not given such eligibility.<ref name="Washington Post" /> The act was the first time religion had been overtly used as a criterion for citizenship under [[Law of India|Indian law]].<ref name="Washington Post">{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Joanna |date=18 December 2019 |title=Why protests are erupting over India's new citizenship law |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/why-indias-citizenship-law-is-so-contentious/2019/12/17/35d75996-2042-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218215158/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/why-indias-citizenship-law-is-so-contentious/2019/12/17/35d75996-2042-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html |archive-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>{{efn|{{harvp|Sharma|2019|p=523}}: "First, citizenship status biased towards religious identity is by no means a new idea.... A careful study of the policies and laws related to citizenship, adopted since independence, substantiates the assertion that citizenship in India has always been based on an implicit belief that India is for Hindus."}}{{efn|{{harvp|Sen|2018|pp=10–11}}: "Nehru's response [to Patel's warning] made it clear that Muslim migrants from Pakistan could not join the ranks of refugees in India... Thus, despite broad public statements promising citizenship to all displaced persons from Pakistan, Hindu migrants alone counted as citizen-refugees in post-partition India."}}{{efn|{{harvp|Jayal|2019|pp=34–35}}: "While some elements of religious difference had... been covertly smuggled in earlier, this bill seeks to do so overtly."}} A report by the [[V-Dem Institute]] described India as experiencing [[democratic backsliding]] due to the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|Modi era]].<ref name="v-dem.net briefing_paper_9" /><ref name="v-dem.net Democracy Report 2021" /> Various other studies and media sources also cite India experiencing democratic backsliding.<ref name="Ashoka Democratic Backsliding"/><ref>{{cite document |last=Bajpaee |first=Chietigj |title=What Democratic Backsliding Means for India |date=April 2024 |publisher=[[Chatham House]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |date=16 March 2021 |title='Electoral autocracy': The downgrading of India's democracy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56393944 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="The Hindu Democratic Backsliding" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bala |first=Sumathi |date=16 May 2024 |title=Modi's strongman rule raises questions about India's 'democratic decline' as he seeks a third term |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/17/modi-strongman-rule-raises-questions-on-indias-democratic-decline.html |website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref> This is considered the most notable challenge to India's democracy since the authoritarian [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]] years of 1975–77.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2016 |title=Interview with Indira Gandhi |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/indira-gandhi-interview-tv-eye-1978-585652e6031fe-290724.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811131347/https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/indira-gandhi-interview-tv-eye-1978-585652e6031fe-290724.html |archive-date=11 August 2019 |access-date=14 June 2018 |website=Interview relecast through India times |publisher=TV Eye}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 2015 |title=Recalling the Emergency years |work=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/recalling-the-emergency-1975-77-the-emergency-at-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531210846/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/recalling-the-emergency-1975-77-the-emergency-at-work/ |archive-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>