Post-Pahalgam attack: 64 hate speech events against Muslims across India in 14 days

NEW DELHI: According to a report by India Hate Lab (IHL), 64 in-person hate speech events were recorded across nine states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir between April 22 and May 2, with Maharashtra recording the highest number, Indian media reported.

These events followed a coordinated nationwide campaign of hate and intimidation against Muslims, launched by Hindu far-right groups after the Pahalgam militant attack.

The report observed that most of these rallies were organized by Hindu nationalist groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), Rashtriya Bajrang Dal (RBD), Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Sakal Hindu Samaj, Hindu Rashtra Sena, and Hindu Raksha Dal.

“These groups are exploiting the tragedy to inflame communal tensions and mobilize calls for violence, social exclusion, and economic boycotts,” stated the report.

Among the states, Maharashtra recorded the highest number with 17 incidents, followed by Uttar Pradesh (13), Uttarakhand (6), Haryana (6), Rajasthan (5), Madhya Pradesh (5), Himachal Pradesh (5), Bihar (4), and Chhattisgarh (2).

The report states that speakers at these events routinely used dehumanizing language, referring to Muslims as “green snakes,” “piglets,” keede (insects), and “mad dogs.” It also notes that in many instances, speakers incited violence and issued threats to expel Muslims from localities.

According to the report, between April 23 and 29, multiple hate speech events took place across states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Far-right figures, including BJP MLA Nandkishor Gurjar and members of Hindu nationalist groups, used dehumanizing slurs for Muslims, called for their economic and social boycott, incited violence, and urged Hindus to arm themselves. In several rallies, speakers threatened to expel Muslims and spread conspiracy theories linking them to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The report noted that the wave of hate speech has been accompanied by a troubling rise in hate crimes and violence targeting Muslims—particularly Kashmiris—citing incidents such as the assault and arson of Muslim street vendors in Haryana, attacks on Kashmiri shawl sellers, and threats by a BJP leader in Uttarakhand, as well as the brutal axe attack on a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh, where the assailant reportedly shouted, “Twenty-six were killed; twenty-six of yours will die too.”

IHL researchers have observed that most of these in-person hate speech events were either live-streamed or recorded and uploaded to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or X, significantly amplifying their impact and extending their reach to millions of viewers.

“The rapid spread of this content demonstrates the dangerous connection between online hate ecosystems and offline violence,” they said.