Communal violence cannot be overlooked before general elections: US

Hindu nationalist theme of Bharatiya Janata Party may lead to communal violence before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, warned United States Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

In a written document presented to US lawmakers he said if the political party of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stresses on Hindu nationalist themes there’s increased possibility of communal violence.

Coats wrote the policies of BJP during the first term of Modi have deepened communal tensions and Hindu-nationalist campaign by some state leaders may incite low-level violence to animate supporters.

The five-year term of Modi to end in May and so the parliamentary polls to be completed by the same month.

Coats said, “Increasing communal clashes could alienate Indian Muslims and allow Islamist terrorist groups in India to expand their influence.”

Until May there’s also strong possibility of India and Pakistan to have strained relationship.

Coats said firing across the LoC, cross-border terrorism, divisive national elections and the perception of Islamabad’s position with US to contribute to strained India-Pakistan relations.

There has been lately continued terrorist attacks and cross-border terrorism.

The comment of Coats was part of US intelligence community’s assessment of worldwide threats in 2019. It was presented to Senate Select Committee.