1,318 Hate Events: The Rising Tide of India Religious Hate Speech 2025

Hatred is scaling at an average of three events per day. India recorded a staggering 1,318 hate speech events in 2025, marking a 97 percent increase since 2023. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly visited a church on Christmas morning, hardline groups affiliated with his party were allegedly orchestrating shutdowns and vandalizing celebrations across the country.

India Religious Hate Speech 2025: Targeting the Christian Minority

A new report by India Hate Lab, a project of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, highlights a dangerous shift. While Muslims remain the primary target, hate speech against Christians—who make up just 2.3 percent of the population—surged from 115 in 2024 to 162 in 2025. This 41 percent spike reflects a growing rhetoric that portrays minorities as 'foreign threats' to the Hindu nation.

Government Actors and the BJP Link

The data shows a direct link to the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Approximately 88 percent of these events occurred in states governed by the BJP or its allies. High-ranking officials, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, were named as frequent speakers at these events. According to Reuters, the BJP has yet to respond to requests for comment on these findings.