A new report has found that instances of hate speech against minorities in India surged by 74% in 2024, with the highest spike occurring during the national elections.
The report, published on Monday by the Washington-based India Hate Lab, recorded 1,165 cases of hate speech last year, identifying key political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, as frequent sources.
Muslims were the primary targets, accounting for 98.5% of documented incidents. The report also noted that most hate speech incidents took place in states governed by Modi’s party or its allies.
The media reached out to spokespersons from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for comment. While BJP leaders have been accused of marginalizing minority communities, particularly Muslims, the party has consistently denied allegations of Islamophobia and hate speech.
On Tuesday, BJP’s national spokesperson reiterated this stance to media, stating that India has a strong legal framework to maintain peace and prevent violence. He dismissed the report as an attempt by “anti-India vested interests” to tarnish the country’s image.
However, during the 2024 election campaign, the BJP faced accusations of promoting hate speech, with opposition leaders claiming that Modi himself used divisive rhetoric against Muslims. In May, the Election Commission directed the party to take down a social media post that was said to “demonize Muslims.”
May 2024 saw the highest number of hate speech incidents, with 269 recorded cases. While Christians were also targeted, the scale was significantly lower than that of Muslims.
Rights groups have long asserted that discrimination and attacks against minorities have intensified since Modi’s government took power in 2014, an allegation the BJP has repeatedly rejected.
The report highlighted that hate speech was most commonly observed at political rallies, religious processions, protests, and cultural gatherings. Of the total incidents, 79.9% (931 cases) occurred in BJP-ruled states, with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh accounting for nearly half of all cases.
Additionally, BJP itself organized 340 hate speech-related events in 2024, marking a staggering 580% increase from the previous year.
The report warned of a sharp rise in dangerous rhetoric compared to 2023, with both political and religious leaders openly inciting violence against Muslims. It documented calls for physical attacks, armed mobilization, economic boycotts of Muslim businesses, and the demolition of Muslim-owned properties and religious sites.
