India as of today plays the Hindu ideas .. and downplays Buddhist followers ( mostly poor and downtrodden following footsteps of BR Ambedkar)
BJP which is ruling party for 3rd consecutive term is staunchly supporting Upper caste ( Brahmins).
TLDR: Buddhist leadership although is prophesised seems unlikely as of today. (However their Vippassana is worth giving a 10 day shot in todays chaotic world https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/locations/directory)
> and downplays Buddhist followers
How does it downplay Buddhist followers?
Buddhism in India grew in opposition to the Hindu caste system instead of spiritual change of thought. The current Indian government is loudly Hindu nationalist and prefers to minimise or even dismiss the diversity of Indian religious practices as well as pretend that the caste system is no longer present.
They and their supporters downplay Buddhist followers by pretending that the lived experiences of these Buddhist (on in general the non-hindu) don't exist.
Do you have a source on how BJP downplays Buddhist followers?
> BJP ... is staunchly supporting Upper caste ( Brahmins).
I'm curious what you mean by this. I've heard a wide range of opinions on BJP from NRIs, but that's one position I haven't been told before. My understanding was that BJP supports caste and village inclusivity in universities and professional fields to such an extent that some people from tier 1 cities even feel left out.