India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party on Wednesday named a woman as the top government official in the state of New Delhi, which includes the country’s capital, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi moves to consolidate his party’s hold there after winning the local election.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rekha Gupta, right, greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking oath as Delhi state Chief Minister during swearing in ceremony at Ramlila Maidan in New

India’s religious minorities have faced a “staggering” rise in hate speech over the past year, including from top leaders of the ruling Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report released Monday.

India's ruling Hindu nationalist party on Wednesday named a woman as the top government official in the state of New Delhi, which includes the country's capital, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi moves to consolidate his party's hold there after winning the local election.

Gupta’s ascent to power hands control of the capital city to Prime Minister Modi’s party for the first time in 27 years.