Surge of Hate Speech in India Reaches Alarming Levels During 2024 Elections

Released by India Hate Lab, the report indicates that hate speech instances soared during the 2024 national elections, with political leaders among its main propagators. Critics point to the ruling BJP as a key player in promoting such rhetoric.

Instances of hate speech against minority communities in India have skyrocketed by 74% in 2024, according to a new report published by the Washington-based research group, India Hate Lab. Released this past Monday, the report reveals that there were 1,165 recorded incidents of hate speech, with the height of such occurrences coinciding with the country’s national elections. The most impacted community appears to be Muslims, who were the target of 98.5% of reported hate speech cases.

The report highlights that many incidents took place in regions governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its larger allied groups. Responding to the report, representatives from the BJP, including national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, dismissed the allegations, suggesting that claims of Islamophobia were unfounded and suggesting that the visa system was effective in maintaining order and peace throughout the country.

Throughout the electoral campaign, the party faced intense scrutiny over claims of using inflammatory language against Muslims. In particular, Modi himself has been accused of propagating rhetoric deemed divisive. In May 2024, the Election Commission instructed the BJP to remove a contentious social media post alleged to have demonized Muslims.

The report further denotes that May saw the highest number of hate speech instances, with 269 reported events. While Christians also faced hate speech, the documentation indicates they were targeted significantly less than Muslims. According to the India Hate Lab’s findings, 79.9% of hate speech events occurred in states where the BJP either governed or was in coalition, with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh accounting for almost half of the reported incidents.

A troubling trend noted in the report indicated an increase in violent rhetoric, with political leaders and religious figures encouraging violence against Muslims, including alarming calls for violence, economic boycotts of Muslim businesses, and destruction of property.

As society grapples with the implications of these findings, calls for a reevaluation of the national discourse continue to grow, with minority rights organizations emphasizing the need for a more inclusive environment in the wake of growing discrimination and violence since Modi's administration began in 2014.