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In 2025, reports indicate that anti-minority hate speech in India increased by 13%, with most incidents taking place in states led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The India Hate Lab recorded a total of 1,318 cases involving hate speech throughout the year, an increase from 1,165 in 2024 and 668 in 2023. These incidents were documented at various events such as political rallies, religious processions, protests, and cultural gatherings. Out of the total, 1,164 occurred in regions where BJP or coalition governments are in power.
The Indian government has dismissed these reports as biased. Officials defend their policies—such as food subsidy programs and electrification initiatives—arguing they serve all communities equally. The month of April saw the highest number of incidents, with 158 events, especially after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have pointed out that the persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, has intensified under Modi’s leadership. They highlight laws like the religion-based citizenship law condemned by the UN as “fundamentally discriminatory,” as well as anti-conversion legislation, the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and the destruction of Muslim-owned property.
Founded by Kashmiri journalist Raqib Hameed Naik, the India Hate Lab operates under the Center for the Study of Organized Hate in Washington. It bases its definitions on the UN’s standards, which describe hate speech as prejudiced language targeting individuals or groups based on attributes such as religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, or gender.
The Indian government has often dismissed reports from the India Hate Lab as portraying a biased picture of the nation’s socio-political climate.
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