Report 2024: Hate Speech Events in India
Introduction This report documents and analyzes verified instances of in-person hate speech events in India in 2024, covering various types of mass gatherings. These include political rallies, electoral campaign events, religious processions, protest marches, demonstrations, and cultural or nationalist gatherings. In other instances, they are organized with the express objective of harassing minorities. In 2024, […]
Social Media and Hate Speech in India
Introduction This report analyzes the role of social media platforms in the dissemination and amplification of verified in-person hate speech events in India in 2024, covering various types of mass gatherings. These include political rallies, electoral campaign events, religious processions, protest marches, demonstrations, and cultural or nationalist gatherings. In other instances, they are organized with […]
Maharashtra Election Results Signal Potential Rise in Hate Speech and Targeted Attacks on Religious Minorities
On November 23, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance secured a resounding victory in the Maharashtra state elections, securing 235 of the 288 assembly seats. The victory of the NDA alliance signals a significant achievement for the BJP as the party suffered substantial losses in the state during the 2024 parliamentary […]
Election Brief: Hate Speech and Polarization Overshadow Election Campaigning in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra state elections, set to take place on November 20, 2024, have been marked by rampant anti-Muslim hate speeches during the ongoing campaign. One of the most controversial elements of the rhetoric has been the popularization of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s slogan, “batoge toh katoge,” which translates to “if divided, you will […]
Election Brief: BJP Star Campaigners in Jharkhand Resort to Anti-Muslim Hate Speech to Polarize the Electorate
As Jharkhand heads to the polls between November 13-20, 2024, the election campaign in the state has been inundated with hateful rhetoric from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, particularly regarding alleged Rohingya and Bangladeshi ‘infiltration.’ This reflects a clear surge in anti-minority hate speech targeting Muslims living in the state, who are indirectly referenced through […]
India Hate Lab Brief: Dangerous Rise of Anti-Muslim Hate Speech in India’s Elections
As Indians take to the polling booths for the world’s largest elections, the India Hate Lab has noted a discernable rise in anti-Muslim hate speeches at election rallies. This was most concerningly and illustratively showcased in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign speech in Rajasthan state on April 21. “When they (the Congress) were in power, […]
Unraveling the Web: Hate Speech, Disinformation, Weaponization of History and Role of Mainstream Media
By Deeksha Udupa Apoorvanand Jha is a professor of Hindi at the University of Delhi. A well-known political commentator, he is also a columnist in leading newspapers, magazines, and news websites, writing broadly on education, culture, communalism, violence, and human rights issues. In this interview, Professor Apoorvanand shares his insights into the current landscape of […]
Harvesting Hate: The Impact of Hate Speech in Rural India
By Deeksha Udupa Parth M.N. is an award-winning journalist who reports on marginalized communities and social inequality in rural India for various Indian and international publications. In light of the surge in hate speech incidents, communal tensions, and violence, Parth M.N. shares insights into the ground realities of communal disharmony and the proliferation of hate […]
Report 2023: Hate Speech Events in India
Executive Summary In 2023, India Hate Lab (IHL) documented 668 hate speech events targeting Muslims. Similarly, IHL recorded 255 of the events in the first half of 2023, while the number rose to 413 events in the second half of the year, a 62% increase. 498 (75%) of the events took place in Bharatiya Janata […]
The News Minute: Hate speech by BJP and groups peaked during polls, 9 different ‘jihad’ theories floated
The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat witnessed the highest number of hate speech gatherings.