India Witnesses Surge in Hate Speech Events Targeting Minorities, Reports 98% Targeting Muslims

India saw a disturbing rise in hate speech events in 2025, with at least 1,318 incidents recorded across the country. According to the India Hate Lab report, 98% of these incidents targeted Muslims, a concerning spike in sectarian rhetoric. This represents a 13% increase from 2024 and a 97% rise from 2023.

The report highlights Uttar Pradesh as the epicenter of these hate speeches, with 266 recorded incidents, followed by Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. BJP-ruled states accounted for 88% of the hate speech events, further raising concerns about the political and social environment in these regions.
 

The most common form of hate speech revolved around conspiracy theories such as “love jihad” and “land jihad,” with over 650 incidents involving such rhetoric. Additionally, a significant number of speeches called for violence, social boycotts, and the destruction of religious sites, with a special focus on mosques.
 

The report also noted an alarming rise in anti-Christian hate speech, marking a nearly 41% increase compared to the previous year. These trends reflect a dangerous shift towards more normalized hate rhetoric, particularly from far-right Hindu nationalist groups like the VHP and Bajrang Dal.

While the government has largely avoided taking responsibility, the Karnataka state government’s recent enactment of the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill represents a rare but crucial step towards combating the rise in hate speech.