The controversy emerged amidst intensifying religious tensions in India. Many have accused India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of instigating violence through divisive rhetoric against the country's Muslim minority.[9] In June 2022, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated there were “rising attacks on people and places of worship" in India.[9] India said the comments were "ill-informed".[2]