New Delhi: A report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights has recorded a sharp rise in hate crimes and hate speech against religious minorities during the first year of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term. The study covers the period from June 7, 2024 to June 7, 2025.
The report documents 947 incidents across India. These include 602 hate crimes and 345 hate speech cases. Among the hate crimes, 173 incidents involved physical violence. In 25 cases, Muslim victims lost their lives. The report states Muslims faced the highest level of targeted violence.
The study defines hate crimes using the United Nations Rabat Plan of Action. It describes these acts as violence driven by prejudice linked to social identity. Hate speech includes offensive public discourse targeting individuals or groups based on identity.
The report notes violence against Dalits, Adivasis, and Christians as well. It records harm to 25 Hindus who were present at communal flashpoints. Hindu women faced higher risk in such situations.
Political links emerge across the data. Of the 345 hate speech cases, 178 involved individuals linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party. States ruled by the BJP reported higher incident counts. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra appear most often in the findings.
Religious festivals emerged as repeated flashpoints. The report links Ram Navami, Holi, Navratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi to incidents involving vandalism, assaults, and intimidation. It documents a Ram Navami procession in Jodhpur featuring a tableau of a chained Muslim man. Other incidents include attacks on places of worship and cases of cow vigilantism.
Law enforcement response remained weak. Only 13 percent of documented hate crimes led to FIR registration. The report also criticises sections of the media for spreading inflammatory narratives.
APCR states senior political leaders played a role in normalising hate speech. The report warns this trend places minority safety and equal rights at risk.
