India Hate Lab’s annual report highlights alarming rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Christian rhetoric, with BJP leaders and Hindu nationalist groups at the forefront
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A shocking report by the India Hate Lab (IHL), a project of the Washington, D.C.-based Centre for the Study of Organised Hate (CSOH), has revealed a staggering 74.4% increase in hate speech incidents targeting religious minorities in India in 2024. The report, titled Hate Speech Events in India – Report 2024, documents 1,165 verified instances of hate speech, up from 668 in 2023, with Muslims and Christians bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The findings underscore how hate speech has become deeply entrenched in India’s political and social fabric, particularly during the 2024 general elections and state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The report identifies top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, as key instigators of communal rhetoric.
“Hate speech in India is no longer just a fringe activity; it has become a mainstream political tool,” states the India Hate Lab report. “The alarming rise in dangerous speech—calls for violence, economic boycotts, and destruction of religious properties—poses a grave threat to India’s democratic values and social harmony.”
The report highlights that hate speech incidents peaked during the 2024 general elections, held in seven phases between April and June. Political rallies, campaign events, and religious gatherings became hotbeds for anti-Muslim and anti-Christian rhetoric. BJP leaders, along with figures from Hindu nationalist organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, were responsible for a significant proportion of these incidents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the most prominent figures accused of propagating hate speech. Their speeches, often delivered in the context of local election campaigns, were amplified by social media platforms, reaching nationwide audiences.
“The BJP’s strategy of using hate speech as a campaign tool has normalised communal polarisation,” said a political analyst quoted in the report. “This is not just about winning elections; it’s about reshaping India’s identity as an exclusively Hindu nation.”
Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) played a pivotal role in spreading hate speech. Of the 1,165 documented incidents, 995 videos were traced back to their original sources on social media. Facebook alone accounted for 495 hate speech videos, while 211 were shared exclusively on YouTube.
Despite community guidelines prohibiting hate speech, platforms failed to enforce their policies effectively. “Social media has become a double-edged sword,” the report states. “While it connects people, it also amplifies the most extreme and dangerous content, often with devastating consequences.”
The report identifies a sharp rise in “dangerous speech,” defined as rhetoric that increases the risk of violence against targeted groups. This included calls for economic boycotts of Muslim businesses, destruction of Muslim homes and religious structures, and even outright violence.
“Muslims are portrayed as infiltrators, thieves, and threats to Hindus,” the report notes. “This dehumanising rhetoric is designed to justify exclusion, marginalisation, and violence.”
One particularly disturbing trend was the proliferation of conspiracy theories, such as “Love Jihad,” “Land Jihad,” and “Population Jihad,” which falsely accuse Muslims of conspiring to dominate Hindus. These narratives, often propagated by BJP leaders, have fuelled anti-Muslim sentiment across the country.
The report draws parallels between India’s hate speech crisis and global trends, noting similar patterns in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Brazil. It also criticises the Indian government and institutions for their failure to curb hate speech.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Supreme Court were singled out for their inaction. Despite numerous petitions, the ECI took minimal steps to address hate speech during the elections, while the Supreme Court rejected appeals to hold perpetrators accountable.
“The complicity of institutions has emboldened hate speech actors,” the report states. “When leaders incite violence without consequences, it sends a message that such behaviour is acceptable.”
The report concludes with a stark warning: “The normalisation of hate speech poses an existential threat to India’s democracy and social cohesion. Combating this menace is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for the survival of India’s pluralistic ethos.”
Activists and civil society groups have echoed this sentiment, calling for urgent action to hold perpetrators accountable and reform social media platforms. “Hate speech is not just words; it has real-world consequences,” said a human rights advocate. “We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.”
As India grapples with the fallout of this alarming rise in hate speech, the report serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to protect the country’s minorities and uphold its democratic values.
The report’s findings paint a grim picture of a nation once celebrated for its cultural diversity and social harmony. The spread of communal hatred raises profound questions about India’s future. Will the nation take steps to curb this rising tide of hostility, or will the forces of division push it toward deeper unrest? These questions remain unanswered, but the urgency for action has never been clearer.
