Modi's Dangerous Strategy: Fueling Hate and Fracturing India's Secular Foundation

Hindus for Human Rights has publicly urged the Election Commission of India to intervene following a particularly controversial speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delivered in Rajasthan, the speech has been criticized for its overtly Islamophobic tone.

Modi has sporadically attempted to portray his party as a beacon of unity, but recent rhetoric paints a different picture—one of a hardline Hindu nationalist view with blatant, over-the-top attacks on Muslims and opposition parties. Modi is manipulating Hindu faith and identity as a political weapon, endangering the secular and democratic foundations of India while promoting violence against Muslims and other minorities.

This year, incidents of hate speech and violence against Muslims in India have seen a dramatic uptick. Modi’s recent comments, which suggest that Muslims are 'infiltrators' who will eventually overrun Hindu majorities, echo dangerous global narratives similar to the 'Great Replacement Theory'—often cited by extremists.

By leveraging such divisive speech, Modi risks inciting further violence and splintering the very fabric of Indian society, which prides itself on its diverse and secular ethos. There is a desperate need for regulatory oversight to preserve the nation's foundational values and protect its minorities from hate-driven violence. HfHR stands firm in our conviction that India's strength lies in its diversity, and as such, vehemently opposes Modi's current trajectory, a betrayal of India’s secular commitments and an abuse of political and cultural power for electoral gains.