Anti-Hindu hate speech: Indian politician makes objectionable remarks against Hindu community
New Delhi, Delhi, India 
30 June, 2024
Case Summary
An anti-Hindu hate speech targeting the Hindu community was made by Rahul Gandhi, a Congress politician. The accused said that Hindus are a violent and hateful community. On 1 July 2024, Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy in the Lok Sabha with remarks suggesting that those identifying as Hindus promote violence, hatred, and falsehoods. During his speech, Rahul Gandhi said, “All our great men have spoken about non-violence and eliminating fear… But those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth…” This prompted interventions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Prime Minister Modi objected, stating that Gandhi’s comments labelled the entire Hindu community as violent, which he deemed a serious accusation. Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi, emphasising that associating violence with any religion is wrong. Amit Shah said, “The Leader of the Opposition has clearly stated that those who identify as Hindu speak of and commit violence. He is unaware that millions proudly call themselves Hindu. Associating violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologise.” Swami Avdheshanand Giri, a Hindu religious leader, also condemned Gandhi’s statements, asserting that Rahul defamed and insulted the Hindu community, which he described as non-violent and accommodating. He called for Rahul Gandhi to apologise and retract his words, highlighting that his remarks had hurt and angered the Hindu community and its saints. It is important to note that some videos of Rahul Gandhi suggest that he said Hindus cannot be violent or hateful, but only the Bharatiya Janata Party is violent and hateful. However, his prior remarks targeted the entire Hindu community, not just the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. In this case, Rahul Gandhi calling Hindus violent and hateful clearly reflects deep religious animosity. By unfairly generalising millions of people belonging to one faith as inherently violent, hateful, or deceitful, he showcased a profound bias and hostility towards the entire Hindu community. This sweeping condemnation did not address individuals or actions but targeted the religious identity of an entire group, which constitutes the core of religiously motivated hate speech. Such language maligns Hindu identity, fostering division and hostility rooted in prejudice. Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi’s position as a senior politician and member of Parliament amplifies the harmful impact of his statements. When someone holding such authority propagates negative stereotypes about an entire religious community, it legitimises prejudice and normalises discrimination within society. His remarks have the potential to inflame communal tensions by encouraging others to view Hindus with suspicion or hostility, which can lead to tangible harms like social exclusion, discrimination, or even violence against Hindus for their faith. Therefore, Rahul Gandhi’s speech stands as a clear instance of religiously motivated hate speech, damaging social cohesion and undermining the dignity of the Hindu community. By falsely painting Hindus in a negative light, the speech not only spreads prejudice but also threatens the principles of respect and peaceful coexistence. Given that Rahul Gandhi's statements meet the parameters of a religiously motivated hate speech, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
