Narendra Modi's ruling party and affiliated groups were behind most hate speech events against Muslims during the first half of the year, according to a report released on Monday.
According to a report from Hindutva Watch, some 80% of the 255 recorded incidents of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims occurred in union territories and states run by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Washington-based research group monitors hate crimes and inflammatory speech against Muslims and other minorities in India.
In 2014, researchers in India found evidence of the rising trend of anti-Muslim speech in India. The report found that over half of the recorded incidents in India were orchestrated by the ruling BJP and affiliates, including the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Sakal Hindu Samaj. Those groups have links to the ideological father of BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.