Surge in Hate Speech Against Muslims in India Amid Rising Hindu Nationalism

As India’s Muslim population faces growing anxiety, a stark increase in hate speech in 2024 has sparked concerns about the country’s political climate, driven by the rhetoric of the ruling BJP.

In 2024, India witnessed a disturbing rise in hate speech targeting religious minorities, particularly Muslims, amid heightened tensions and the influence of Hindu nationalist rhetoric. A recent report by the US-based India Hate Lab (IHL) revealed a staggering surge in such incidents, highlighting the growing anxiety within India’s Muslim population of more than 220 million. The increase in hate speech was described as “deeply intertwined with the ideological ambitions” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the broader Hindu nationalist movement.

The report noted that during India’s 2024 national elections, hate speech incidents escalated dramatically, with the number of incidents rising from 668 in 2023 to 1,165 in 2024—an alarming 74.4 percent increase. A significant portion of this hate speech, around 98.5 percent, targeted Muslims. More than two-thirds of these incidents took place in states controlled by the BJP or its allies, further highlighting the political implications of the surge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP have been accused of using divisive rhetoric to galvanize support from the Hindu majority during the election. Modi’s campaign rhetoric painted Muslims as “infiltrators” and accused the opposition Congress party of planning to redistribute the nation’s wealth to Muslims if it came to power. Such inflammatory statements were intended to consolidate the Hindu vote but have left India’s Muslim population increasingly fearful of their place in the country.

The IHL report specifically pointed to the rise in hate speech delivered by BJP leaders, with over 450 incidents attributed to them. Modi himself was responsible for 63 of these instances, which often depicted Muslims as an existential threat to Hindu culture and the nation. The most concerning development was the increasing calls for the destruction of Muslim religious sites. The situation escalated after Modi’s inauguration of a grand Ram temple, built on the site of a centuries-old mosque destroyed by a mob, an event that further fueled religious tensions.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and X played a major role in the dissemination of these hate speeches, with 266 anti-minority speeches being broadcast during the election period via the official accounts of BJP leaders and party pages.

The report underscores the growing impact of such rhetoric on India’s religious minorities and the country’s political environment. As hate speech continues to proliferate, the fear among India’s Muslim community grows, sparking concerns about their future and the broader societal implications of the BJP’s divisive policies.