India Hate Lab Report: Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Speech Documented

Between April 22 and May 2, the India Hate Lab (IHL) published a report documenting 64 incidents of hate speech in nine Indian states and Jammu and Kashmir, of which 17 events were in Maharashtra and 13 in Uttar Pradesh. The events included hate speech rallies organized largely by Hindu Nationalist groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The event organizers tapped into communal divisions following the Pahalgam operation. As per researcher observation, the events were part of a coordinated strategy aimed at plunging Muslims into a position of marginalization through calls to violence, social ostracism or economic boycotts.

At this rally, speakers used derogatory terms such as “green snakes,” “keede” (bugs), and “mad dogs” to refer to Muslims. Conspiracy theories connecting Muslims to both Pakistan and Bangladesh were likewise amplified, in addition to explicit threats to remove them from neighborhoods. BJP MLA Nandkishor Gurjar and other far-right figures openly called for Hindus to bring weapons, and some rallies supported open violence.

The report connects the uptick in hate speech to an increase in anti-Muslim violence as well as attacks on Kashmiri vendors in Haryana, arson attacks and the horrific axe murder in Uttar Pradesh, which seemed to have been prompted by the Pahalgam murders. Researchers highlighted that Kashmiris were increasingly targeted, often with attackers threading national security rhetoric into their justification for violence.

More than 80% of events were live-streamed or shared online through Facebook, YouTube, and X, reaching millions of views. IHL cautioned that the online-offline connection risks normalizing extremism, stating, "Dehumanization manifests in seconds and spreadss rapidly to incite real-world harm."