Apropos news report, "Mob kills cleric in Gurugram, torch eatery, vandalise shops” (Aug 2), the latest incident of Railway Security guard killing his senior and three passengers on board a train followed by his praise for BJP leaders is a disturbing testament on how hate crime is on rise in India. The killer guard, who openly endorsed BJP leaders after the shooting, highlights the dangerous extent of communalism. Similarly, the latest tragic clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Haryana, resulting in the death of five, further accentuates the deeply troubling state of affairs. As India prepares for general elections next year, one can expect the fringe elements to deploy dubious methods to give the ruling BJP a boost in the polls. The two incidents in a long and diverse chronology are indicative of the normalisation of hatred in India in recent times. Importantly, such incidents can scare foreign investors who have shown willingness to invest in India after boycotting China.
