India's election campaign sees rise in islamophobic rhetoric by Modi and BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is increasingly using overtly Islamophobic language in his election campaign, according to critics and observers, as he seeks a third consecutive term in governing India.

Despite a slight decrease in voter turnout compared to five years ago, Modi—who remains highly popular and the clear frontrunner—has shifted towards negative campaigning. This shift has met little resistance from civil society or election authorities, they say.
Members of Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including some of its prominent leaders, have long been accused of using inflammatory language against India's 200 million Muslims. However, critics note a significant change in this election cycle, with Modi himself now making such statements.
'What is unique about what we’ve seen recently is that these statements are being uttered by the Prime Minister himself,' said Milan Vaishnav, a senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 'Not necessarily by surrogates – the Home Minister, or by the chief minister – or by other kind of party apparatchiks.'
This change in rhetoric is causing concern among Indian Muslims.
'Narendra Modi and the BJP have for a long time been making references to the community, but it’s moved on from the dog whistle,' said political researcher and columnist Asim Ali. 'It’s painting us as an existential threat to Hindus. It’s coming directly from the prime minister. It’s anti-Muslim, and it’s dangerous.'
Modi and the BJP maintain that they do not discriminate against minority groups.
However, analysts and observers have noted several speeches during this six-week election campaign, which began last month, where Modi has specifically referred to Muslims in a negative context.
PM Modi has called Muslims 'infiltrators' with 'large families' and accused his main opposition, the Indian National Congress, without evidence, of intending to redistribute the country’s wealth to Muslims. He warned women that the opposition would take their gold and give it to Muslims, accused Congress of wanting to select players for the Indian cricket team 'on the basis of religion,' and claimed the party is orchestrating a 'vote jihad' by uniting 'a certain community' against him.
The BJP did not respond to a request for comment on the rhetoric being used by party leaders during this campaign. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill has previously told the media that the party is not prejudiced against Muslims and that the community has benefited from Modi’s leadership.