Hindutva

Indian police said on Feb. 28 they had detained hundreds of people and were keeping a heavy presence in northeast New Delhi, days after the worst bout of sectarian violence in the capital in decades.

At least 38 people were killed in Hindu-Muslim violence this week, police said, amid mounting international criticism that authorities failed to protect minority Muslims.

Mohammad Zubair was on his way home from a local mosque in northeast New Delhi when he came across a large crowd. He turned towards an underpass to avoid the commotion; it proved to be a mistake.   

Indians have begun voting in the first phase of a general election that is being seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported BBC. 

Tens of millions of Indians across 20 states and union territories are voting in 91 constituencies.

The seven-phase vote to elect a new lower house of parliament will continue until 19 May. Counting day is 23 May.

Indians began voting on April 11in the first phase of a mammoth general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi gunning for a second term having campaigned strongly on his national security record following a flare-up in tensions with Pakistan.

Ram Nath Kovind was sworn in on July 25 as India's 14th president, becoming the first member of a powerful Hindu nationalist movement to assume the highest public office in the world's largest democracy.

The Indian People's Party (known as the BJP) is set for a big win against the ruling National Congress in the world's biggest elections.

India has started voting in general elections which will be held in nine phases, with results expected to be announced on May 16.

Over 814 million voters will be able to cast ballots at 930 000 polling stations in the period April 7 – May 12 in what has been described as the world's biggest elections.