Rising Hate Speech Incidents Targeting Religious Minorities in India: Report
Overview of Hate Speech Incidents
A recent report from the India Hate Lab, a research organization based in Washington, reveals that out of 1,318 recorded incidents of hate speech aimed at religious minorities in India last year, a staggering 1,163, or 88%, occurred in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The study covered hate speech occurrences across 23 states and Union Territories, including the national capital, Delhi.
Utilizing the United Nations' definition of hate speech, which characterizes it as derogatory or discriminatory language directed at individuals or groups based on various attributes such as religion, ethnicity, or gender, the report highlights alarming trends.
Increase in Hate Speech Events
The report indicates a 13% rise in 'in-person hate speech' events targeting primarily Muslims and Christians in 2025 compared to the previous year, with a staggering 97% increase since 2023.
These 'in-person hate speech' events occurred during political rallies, religious processions, protest marches, and cultural gatherings.
Out of the total incidents, 1,289, or 98%, were directed at Muslims, with 1,156 cases specifically targeting them and 133 cases involving both Muslims and Christians, marking nearly a 12% increase from 2024.
Hate speech incidents against Christians were documented in 162 cases, representing 12% of the total, with 29 cases explicitly targeting Christians and the rest involving both communities.
This reflects a 41% increase from the 115 anti-Christian incidents recorded in 2024.
Monthly Trends and Key Events
April saw the highest number of hate speech incidents, totaling 158, coinciding with Ram Navami processions and rallies responding to the Pahalgam terror attack.
In the 16 days following the Pahalgam attack and prior to India's military action against Pakistan, 98 in-person hate speech events were documented, indicating a swift nationwide mobilization against Muslims.
Prolific Hate Speech Actors
The report identifies the top ten individuals responsible for the most hate speech incidents, with five being leaders of the ruling BJP.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was noted as the most prolific, delivering 71 speeches, followed by Pravin Togadia of the Hindutva organization Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad with 46 speeches, and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay with 35.
Other notable figures include Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane with 28 speeches, Union Home Minister Amit Shah with 27, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with 22.
The report also highlights that 88% of all hate speech incidents occurred in BJP-ruled states or those under the National Democratic Alliance, a 25% increase from 2024.
Geographical Distribution of Hate Speech
Among the 23 states and Union Territories analyzed, the BJP was in power in 16 for most of the year. The highest occurrences of hate speech were reported in Uttar Pradesh (266), Maharashtra (193), Madhya Pradesh (172), Uttarakhand (155), and Delhi (76), collectively accounting for 65% of all incidents.
In contrast, the seven states governed by opposition parties recorded only 154 hate speech events in 2025, a 34% decrease from 234 incidents in 2024.
Organizational Involvement
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were linked to 289 hate speech events, followed by Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad with 138 incidents.
In total, over 160 organizations and informal groups were identified as either organizers or co-organizers of hate speech events in 2025, with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal being part of a network of Hindutva organizations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organization of the ruling BJP.