Modi Made Over 100 Islamophobic Remarks During Election Campaign: Human Rights Watch

One particularly alarming example cited in the HRW report was a speech delivered by Modi on May 14 in Koderma, Jharkhand, where he claimed, “the idols of our gods are being destroyed” and that “these infiltrators [Muslims] have threatened the security of our sisters and daughters.” Such statements, the report argues, are not only factually baseless but are designed to inflame communal tensions and deepen societal divisions.

Disinformation played a central role in Modi’s campaign, with the Prime Minister frequently making false claims designed to stoke fear and resentment among the Hindu majority. In a speech on May 17 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, Modi falsely claimed that the political opposition would harm the newly opened Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which was controversially built atop a razed historical mosque. He warned that if the opposition came to power, “they will again send Ram Lalla [the Hindu deity Lord Ram] to the tent and they will run a bulldozer over the temple.”

Such statements, the HRW report argues, are part of a broader strategy to portray Muslims as a threat to Hindu culture and religion. Modi also described Muslims as “infiltrators” and claimed that they had “more children” than other communities, raising the specter that Hindus—who make up about 80 percent of the population—could become a minority in their own country. These baseless assertions, the report notes, are designed to exploit existing fears within the Hindu community and galvanize support for the BJP.

In another example of fear-mongering, Modi claimed in a May 7 speech in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, that the opposition Congress Party “intends to give priority to Muslims even in sports. So, Congress will decide who will make the Indian cricket team on the basis of religion.” This statement, HRW points out, is not only false but reflects the extent to which Modi is willing to go to vilify Muslims and undermine his political opponents.

The report cites several instances in which BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, made speeches that pitted Hindus against Muslims and fueled hatred and insecurity among the Hindu population. Despite the clear link between these speeches and subsequent acts of violence, the authorities have largely failed to take meaningful action against the perpetrators.

Since Modi first took office, “several BJP state governments have demolished Muslims’ homes, businesses, and places of worship without due process,” HRW notes, describing these actions as “apparent collective punishment against the Muslim community for communal clashes or dissent.” These demolitions, often referred to as “bulldozer justice” by BJP officials, have become a symbol of the party’s heavy-handed approach to law and order, particularly in states governed by the BJP.

The HRW report also highlights the continuation of violence against religious minorities, noting that “at least 28 reported attacks across the country, resulting in the deaths of 12 Muslim men and a Christian woman,” occurred during the campaign period.

The HRW report also documents the continued targeting of Muslims by government authorities since the elections. In one particularly egregious case, Madhya Pradesh authorities demolished without due process 11 Muslim houses in the Adivasi-dominated Mandla district, claiming that they had found beef in their refrigerators. While the authorities justified the demolitions by saying the houses had been illegally built on government land, news reports indicated that 16 other houses in the same neighborhood, which authorities acknowledged were also illegal but where no beef was found, remained standing.

One of the most concerning aspects of the HRW report is its emphasis on the failure of government authorities to take action against those responsible for hate speech and violence. Despite numerous complaints from voters and opposition politicians about the speeches made by Modi and other BJP leaders, the Election Commission of India largely failed to respond adequately.

According to the report, Muslims have been disproportionately targeted by government actions, whether through demolition of homes, arrests, or other forms of harassment, while the perpetrators of violence against them have largely escaped punishment.

Elaine Pearson, Director of Human Rights Watch Asia, stated that the hate speeches by India’s Prime Minister pose a real global threat to the public, sometimes leading to direct physical attacks and even killings. The claims made by Modi about Muslims and other minorities are baseless and provocative, leading to increased oppression of Muslims, Christians, and others who are already suffering under Modi’s government.

“The Indian government’s claims of plurality and being the ‘mother of democracy’ ring hollow in the face of its abusive anti-minority actions,” said Elaine Pearson.