India Hate Lab (IHL)

Agence France-Presse: Online hate sows Muslim fears as India votes

India Hate Lab founder Raqib Hameed Naik said that the BJP’s IT Cell had generated anger towards minorities, by promoting the government’s Hindu-nationalist agenda.

Naik, who documents hate speech against religious minorities, said the social media messages spreading during the Haldwani violence followed a pattern seen in previous riots.

“First, hate speech against Muslims by a Hindu activist or politician creates an atmosphere… then the hate speech triggers an incident,” Naik said.

Afterwards, online Hindu-nationalist campaigners “hold Muslims responsible” for the violence, he added.

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