New Delhi: Asked about the increasing number of incidents of hate speech in the country being made by politicians against minorities, the Union government informed parliament that police and public order are state subjects and that state governments “are responsible for prevention, detection and investigation of crimes and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies.”
The Centre’s reply came on Wednesday (March 26) in response to a written question by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Daroga Prasad Saroj in the Lok Sabha who asked whether the government is aware of increasing number of incidents of hate speeches being made by the politicians against minorities in the country including details of such incidents and whether the government has plans to formulate any new and adequately strict laws to deal with each incidents caused by hate speeches made against the minorities.
In his response, Rijiju did not provide any data on the number of hate speeches delivered by politicians in the country and passed the buck to state governments.
“‘Public Order’ and ‘Police’ are state subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the constitution of India. The state government are responsible for prevention, detection and investigation of crimes and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies. The state governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. Moreover, there are adequate provisions under Sections 196, 299 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 to deal with such incidents,” said Rijiju in his written reply.
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Rijiju’s response comes a month after India Hate Lab in its report published on February 10 noted that India saw a 74% increase in hate speech in 2024, with over 1,000 incidents recorded compared to 688 such events in 2023.
The report said that nearly 40% or 462 hate speeches were delivered by politicians, with BJP leaders being responsible for 452 of them. Compared to 2023, when BJP politicians delivered 100 hate speeches, which represents an increase of 352%.
The report also highlighted how anti-Muslim hate was used as a political tool during elections and hate speech incidents spiked after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara where he referred to Indian Muslims as “infiltrators”.
National Commission for Minorities
Rijiju also said that the National Commission for Minorities looks after the development of minorities and if it receives any petition for action, it can take them up with concerned state governments and authorities.
“However, National Commission for Minorities, a statutory body under the ministry, inter-alia, looks after evaluation of progress of development of minorities, monitoring the working of safeguards for the minorities, looking into the complaints and deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities, conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational development of minorities, etc. In the case of receiving any such petitions, the commission take them up with concerned authorities/state governments for necessary action,” he said.
