About 89.3 per cent of hate speeches were delivered by elected representatives including MPs, MLAs, state-level cabinet ministers, and Union ministers
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A significant 270 per cent increase in hate speeches was recorded last year across the country, a report compiled by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) said on Saturday. It said it monitored news items published in the Mumbai editions of prominent newspapers such as The Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindu, Inquilab, and Sahafat. It said a total of 122 instances of hate speech were reported in 2024 in contrast to 33 such cases recorded in the previous year, 2023.
One-third of the 122 speeches reported in 2024, almost 33 per cent were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Of these, 117—constituting nearly 96%—were targeted at Muslims. In comparison, three speeches (2.45%) were directed against Hindus, while one each (0.8%) targeted Dalits and Sikhs.
The CSSS is a Mumbai-based organisation promoting equality, inclusion and peace and critically looks at state policies and contributes towards inclusive policies.
It said one of the key factors contributing to the sharp rise in hate speech could be attributed to the elections in 2024. “Specifically, the general elections, as well as state assembly elections in pivotal states such as Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, likely played a substantial role in the increase. A considerable portion of these hate speeches were delivered during election campaigns and political rallies, underscoring the heightened use of divisive rhetoric for electoral dividend during this period,” the report said.
A total of 38 speeches, constituting 31 per cent, were delivered in Maharashtra, indicating the steady rise in communal discourse in the state. Additionally, 23 hate speeches were recorded in Uttar Pradesh, nine in Jharkhand, eight in West Bengal, seven each from Assam, Bihar and six in Gujarat. The remaining hate speeches came from across other states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
It is significant to highlight that 109 out of the 122 reported hate speeches, constituting approximately 89.3 per cent, were delivered by elected representatives including Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), state-level cabinet ministers, union ministers and the prime minister. One hate speech is notably delivered by a high court judge.
Furthermore, the majority of these hate speeches, 109 out of the 122, were made by leaders affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accounting for 89.3% per cent of the total hate speeches reported by the aforementioned newspapers.
A closer examination reveals that 40 out of 122 hate speeches were delivered by the prime minister, making up 32.7 per cent of the total, while 15 speeches were made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Additionally, 12 hate speeches each were attributed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and five by Maharashtra’s then deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. These cumulatively accounted for 84 hate speeches out of 122, constituting 68.5% of the total cases. The monitoring also pointed out Nitesh Rane, BJP MLA from Maharashtra, delivered nine hate speeches.
In addition to these, the monitoring indicates that hate speeches were also made by Union ministers and state-level cabinet ministers, including one from the BJP and another from the Trinamool Congress.
“This situation is deeply concerning as it highlights the alarming normalisation of hatred and the failure of the criminal justice system to take effective action, thereby allowing hate speeches to proliferate unchecked. The individuals holding public office, who have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, are actively engaged in propagating divisive and hateful rhetoric. A significant proportion—84 out of 122 hate speeches—68.6% were made during election campaign rallies, prompting opposition parties to urge the Election Commission to recognise these violations of the Model Code of Conduct and take appropriate action. However, despite these calls for intervention, the Election Commission took no effective measures to deter the spread of hate speech, which continued unabated,” the CSSS said.
The content of the hate speeches, the report said, was primarily centred around inflammatory rhetoric, including claims that, if the Congress party came to power, the wealth of Hindus and the nation would be redistributed among Muslims. In these speeches, Muslims were referred to as illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants; they were accused of engaging in love and land jihad; and there were calls for the demolition of their mosques, homes and commercial properties. Such statements significantly contributed to the growing anti-Muslim discourse and the broader normalization of hate within public discourse, the report pointed out.
The CSSS also touched upon the issue of lack of proper punitive action against members of the ruling party and said it largely contributed to the spread of the phenomenon. “No concrete action seems to have been taken in 2024 despite a slew of hate speeches. While little punitive action was taken against members of the ruling party or religious leaders from Hindu right-wingers for their hate speeches, the statements made by members from other parties and any non-state actor critiquing the narratives of the ruling party, were strictly being acted upon, marking a paradox,” the report said.
It cited a statement made by NCP leader Jitendra Ahwad (Sharad Pawar faction) about Hindu deity Lord Ram being non-vegetarian attracting seven FIRs and vehement criticism from the right-wing. Similarly, in Mumbai, a Dalit student of the International Institute of Population Studies was arrested and a FIR was filed against him promptly after he wrote to the director of IIPS urging him to intervene to stop the celebration of the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya on the IIPS campus. He was arrested on the complaint filed by another student who claimed that demanding such intervention hurt his “religious sentiment”.
On the same pattern, the report said, Mufti Salman Azhari’s “highly condemnable” hate speech attracted charges slapped under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act and the matter was investigated by Gujarat police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad.
However, what stands out in stark contrast is how despite blatant hate speeches inciting ill-will against Muslims, the judicial system didn’t act. “It appears as if different hate speeches are attracting different punitive action. Civil society groups including PUCL urged for action. PUCL filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate registration of FIR and strict action against him over his anti-Muslim hate speech in at an election rally in Banswara (Roytalukdar, 2024). However, no FIR was lodged. The Election Commission also remained equally silent on such demands,” the report said.
