Hate speech in India is escalating, driven by divisive politics, with serious implications for social cohesion and national unity.
Hate speech incidents in India rose by 74% in 2024, with a major spike during the national elections, according to a report by Washington-based research group India Hate Lab. The organization recorded 1,165 instances of hate speech last year, up from 668 in 2023, showing a sharp increase in communal rhetoric, particularly targeting Muslims.
The study linked this rise to the political climate surrounding India’s general elections, held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1. A third of the incidents took place during this period, with May seeing the highest number. The report pointed to remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in an April campaign speech, called Muslims “infiltrators” who have “more children.”
Modi, now in his third term, denied that his words created divisions, but his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win a majority and had to form a coalition government. India Hate Lab reported that 80% of the recorded hate speech incidents in 2024 happened in states governed by the BJP and its allies.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticized Modi’s government for allowing an atmosphere of intolerance to grow. The United Nations described India’s 2019 citizenship law as “fundamentally discriminatory” because it excluded Muslim refugees. Other policies include anti-conversion laws that limit religious freedoms, the 2019 removal of Kashmir’s special status, and the demolition of Muslim-owned properties under the claim of illegal construction. The ban on hijabs in Karnataka’s classrooms, introduced when the BJP governed the state, added to the list of measures that restricted religious expression.
The report found that hate speech was common at political rallies, religious processions, protest marches, and cultural gatherings. These public events provided a platform for open discrimination, making minorities feel increasingly unsafe. Many analysts believe that the rise in hate speech has encouraged extremists, leading to real-world consequences for targeted communities.
The government denies any bias, but its actions suggest otherwise. Crackdowns on activists, restrictions on religious attire, and selective enforcement of laws have deepened concerns about civil liberties. The decision to strip Kashmir of its special status in 2019, along with restrictions on press freedom and movement, has left many in the region feeling isolated.
India’s human rights record is facing growing international criticism. Foreign governments and rights groups have raised concerns about rising religious intolerance and shrinking democratic space. The upcoming White House meeting between Modi and Trump may bring these issues up, but political interests could overshadow any real discussion on human rights.
Despite this, many journalists, activists, and legal experts in India continue to document and speak out against these violations, often at great risk. With limited accountability, however, dissent is becoming harder.
What will it cost India if Modi’s politics of division continues? A country that once stood for diversity and democracy is now moving in a dangerous direction. If this trend continues, India may not just lose its pluralism—it may lose the very foundations of its democracy.
