New Delhi – Hate speech incidents in India saw a sharp rise in 2024, with a staggering 74.4% increase compared to the previous year, according to a new report by the India Hate Lab (IHL), a project of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH). The report documented 1,165 in-person hate speech events targeting religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, across 20 states, two union territories, and Delhi.
The surge in hate speech was closely linked to the 2024 general elections, as well as state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The report alleged the increasing role of top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in propagating divisive rhetoric. Compared to 2023, when state-level politicians were the main contributors, 2024 saw national figures playing a central role.
Three hate speech events per day were recorded on average.
98.5% of speeches targeted Muslims, with 9.9% also targeting Christians.
79.9% of incidents occurred in BJP/NDA-ruled states or union territories under central control.
Uttar Pradesh (242), Maharashtra (210), and Madhya Pradesh (98) reported the highest number of hate speech incidents.
BJP organized 340 hate speech events, a 580% increase from 2023.
685 (58.8%) hate speech events were linked to Sangh Parivar organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.
452 hate speeches were delivered by BJP politicians, marking a 352% increase from 2023.
373 hate speech events occurred during the 2024 general elections (March 16 – June 1).
259 incidents included dangerous speech, such as explicit calls for violence.
274 hate speeches targeted places of worship, advocating their seizure or destruction.
995 hate speech events were first shared or live-streamed on social media, with Facebook and YouTube being the most common platforms.
A peak in hate speech incidents occurred in May 2024, coinciding with the final phases of the general elections. Another spike was observed in August 2024, following political unrest in Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Allegations of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh were amplified by BJP leaders and right-wing groups, leading to heightened communal rhetoric in India.
The report underlines the role of social media in amplifying hate speech. Of the 1,165 hate speech events, 995 videos were traced to their original online sources. Facebook alone hosted 495 such videos, while YouTube had 211. 266 hate speeches by senior BJP leaders during the election campaign were live-streamed simultaneously on multiple platforms. Despite clear violations of community standards, only three of the reported videos have been taken down as of February 6, 2025.
The report warns that hate speech is becoming a routine part of electoral politics in India. It highlights the increasing mainstreaming of Hindu nationalist rhetoric, portraying Muslims and Christians as outsiders and threats. Far-right conspiracy theories, including “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad,” were referenced in 581 (49.9%) hate speech events.
With hate speech incidents nearly doubling within a year, the report raises concerns over the increasing normalization of divisive rhetoric in India’s political and social landscape. The findings suggest that 2024 marked an escalation in Hindu nationalist discourse, making calls for violence, economic boycotts, and the targeting of religious minorities more common and aggressive than ever before.
