Indian Americans condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Anti-Muslim hate speech

Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2024) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) strongly condemns Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election speech, which labeled Muslims as "infiltrators" and promoted Hindu far-right conspiracy theory alleging that India’s Muslim population growth poses a threat that must be curbed.

Modi's inflammatory rhetoric falsely insinuated that the opposition Congress party would give away their wealth and resources to Muslims, employing blatant anti-Muslim dog whistles to incite division and hatred.

“They (Congress) will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children. They will distribute it among the infiltrators,” Modi told the crowd.

"We are appalled by Modi's unabashed demonization of India's most vulnerable minority group, pandering shamelessly to his fervently Hindu supremacist base," said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad. "Modi's rhetoric not only violates Indian law, which prohibits communal speeches during election campaigns, but also legitimizes the very narratives that fuel violence against Muslims."

Modi's history is stained with the blood of innocent Muslims, notably in 2002, when he presided over the mass slaughter of Muslim men, women, and children as Chief Minister of Gujarat state. Since assuming office as Prime Minister, Modi has presided over a surge in anti-Muslim hate speech, emboldening Hindu extremists to commit acts of violence, intimidation, and discrimination against Muslims with impunity. Experts warn that a Modi reelection would only escalate violence against Indian Muslims.

"Modi's words endanger the lives of over 200 million Muslims, subjecting them to the specter of horrific violence," Jawad emphasized. "The Biden administration must swiftly condemn Modi's reprehensible rhetoric, unequivocally denounce the pervasive anti-Muslim violence in India, and designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), as recommended by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom."