India’s religious minorities have faced a “staggering” increase in hate speech over the past year, including from top leaders of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to a report released Monday by the Washington-based research group India Hate Lab.
The report recorded 1,165 hate speech incidents in 2024, a 74% rise from the 668 incidents the year before. A vast majority—98%—of these incidents targeted Muslims, either explicitly or alongside Christians.
“Hate speech in India in 2024 followed an alarming trajectory, deeply intertwined with the ideological ambitions of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the broader Hindu nationalist movement,” the report stated.
BJP’s Role In The Surge
According to the report, the BJP organized around 30% of hate speech events in 2024, a nearly sixfold increase from the previous year. BJP leaders delivered 452 hate speeches, marking a 350% rise from 2023. Most of these incidents took place during the general election campaign.
The report found that Hindu nationalist narratives frequently portrayed Muslims and Christians as “outsiders,” “foreigners,” and “invaders”, questioning their legitimacy in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who secured a third term in office last year, has long been accused by critics of fueling religious tensions and inciting violence against minorities. While the Indian constitution enshrines secularism, critics say Modi’s BJP is attempting to reshape the country into a Hindu rashtra—a homeland for Hindus—at the expense of minority communities.
BJP Dismisses Report As “Anti-India”
The BJP has rejected the report, calling it an attempt to tarnish India’s global image.
“India as a nation has a very strong legal system which is structured to maintain peace, order, and ensure non-violence at any cost,” BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill told CNN. “Today’s India does not need any certification from any ‘anti-India reports industry’ which is run by vested interests to prejudice and dent India’s image.”
Modi and his government have repeatedly insisted they do not discriminate against religious minorities.
Institutional Support For Hindu Nationalists
Rights groups argue that under Modi’s leadership, Hindu nationalists have been placed in key government institutions, allowing them to enact legislation that disproportionately impacts Muslims.
Textbooks have been rewritten to downplay the Mughal era, cities and streets with Islamic names have been renamed, and Muslim-owned properties have been demolished by authorities—often as punishment for alleged rioting.
In 2019, Modi’s government revoked the special autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, bringing it under direct control of New Delhi. That same year, a controversial citizenship law was passed, excluding Muslim migrants, which led to violent protests and deadly riots.
Hate Speech Laws And Legal Inaction
While Indian law prohibits hate speech, some legal experts argue that the judiciary has failed to enforce these laws, allowing hate speech to thrive.
“Despite clear prohibitions under various laws in India, the judiciary has failed to take concrete action against hate speech,” said Anas Tanwir, a lawyer and founder of the Indian Civil Liberties Union.
India Hate Lab, a project under the Washington, DC-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), compiles annual data on hate speech in India. The organization follows the United Nations’ definition of hate speech, which includes “any communication in speech, writing, or behavior that attacks or discriminates against a person based on religion.”
