‘Escalating trend of hate speeches in India’
Islamabad: There has been an escalating trend of hate speeches in India since 2014 when the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power.
Anti-Muslim hate speech incidents in India averaged more than one a day in the first half of 2023 and were seen most in states with upcoming elections, according to a report by Hindutva Watch, a Washington-based group monitoring attacks on minorities.
There were 255 documented incidents of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims in the first half of 2023, said the report published. Some of the purveyors of anti-Muslim hate speech include chief ministers, legislators, and senior leaders from the ruling BJP.
The rise of conspiracy theories like Love Jihad, Land Jihad, Halal Jihad, and Vyapar Jihad has been closely linked with the BJP’s efforts to mobilize Hindu nationalism (Hindutva) for electoral benefit. For years now, every evening, on numerous TV channels around India, political propagandists including journalists have been hurling abuses at Muslims and Islam.
The propagandists managed to escape, until now. It is an issue that has played a significant role in the recent surge in anti-Muslim hate and communal violence in India. Recently a spate of blasphemous and disparaging verbal and media indulgence by politicians in India using the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), has been noticed.
The Member of Legislative Assembly, T Raja Singh, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray and Nupur Sharma to name a few. Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India provide rights and checks on such unwarranted blasphemous free speech which needs to be balanced to preserve the peaceful fabric of the State and protect citizens from unnecessary hardship.
Anti-Muslim mindset of BJP/ RSS which use hate speech or call to violence, or the blind and implicit encouragement that the party has offered to those members engaging in hate speech, and incidents of hate crimes to remain relevant to power dynamics in India.
It does not take into account the dog whistles made by the top brass. It does not take into account the acceptance of individuals like Pragya Thakur, accused of terrorism in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case.
It doesn’t take into account the glorification of the demolition of Babri Masjid (described by the Supreme Court as a crime which “shook the secular fabric of India”) and the political plank built off its back, with BJP leaders even today proudly admitting that they participated in its demolition.
BJP is a party that unapologetically supports anti-Muslim politics and rhetoric – it must now reconcile itself to the fact that the world will treat it as such.
