Resolution on Communal Harmony: Campaign Against Hate Speeches and Hate Crimes
Oct 01, 2025By PUCL Delhi
Conference organised on 20th and 21st September 2025 by PUCL Delhi.
Introduction
In recent years, India has witnessed a significant rise in hate speech and hate crimes, particularly against religious minorities such as Muslims and Christians. This troubling trend has been marked by an increasing number of violent and discriminatory incidents, often incited by inflammatory rhetoric from political and religious leaders.
India’s Tradition of Tolerance
India is a nation renowned for its diversity, comprising numerous religious, linguistic and ethnic groups. Historically, Indian culture has been largely tolerant of different faiths and communities. Ancient India was the birthplace of philosophies such as Buddhism and Jainism, and the Charvaka, Sankhya, and Poorva Mimansa schools of Indian thought, some of which questioned or rejected the concept of God. Religious intolerance was not characteristic of ancient Indian society.
Hindus served in the Mughal armies, and Muslims fought alongside Maharana Pratap, Guru Gobind Singh and Shivaji. Sufi saints such as Baba Sheikh Farid and Bhakti poets like Kabir and Guru Nanak were revered across communities. Figures including Rahim, Ameer Khusro, Surdas, and, in the modern era, Jotiba Phule were widely well-regarded. The foundation stone of Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) was laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint. This reflects a longstanding tradition of interfaith respect.
The Constitutional Promise
India’s freedom fighters fulfilled their pledge by establishing a sovereign, democratic, and republican state with the adoption of the Constitution on 26/01/1950. The Preamble of the Constitution affirms the resolve of the people of India to promote fraternity and assure the dignity of every individual. Fostering brotherhood and fraternity among citizens was a foundational resolution when the Constitution was drafted.
Contemporary Challenges
Given these noble foundations, the current rise in hate speeches and hate crimes targeting specific communities is deeply concerning. There have been numerous appalling incidents of lynching targeting Muslim and Dalit individuals. Muslim women have been subjected to derogatory online trolling. Some individuals claiming religious authority have openly called for violence against Muslims. Such hate-filled rhetoric and its resultant actions disrupt harmony and brotherhood, fostering insecurity and distrust among communities.
Religious processions are increasingly being used to incite communal violence. There is a growing hysteria around interfaith marriages, often labelled as ‘Love Jihad’. Under the pretext of alleged ‘large scale conversions’, violent attacks are launched against churches, mosques, prayer meetings, and the homes of Christians and Muslims. Both central and state governments have not only failed to take effective measures to counter these dangerous trends, but in some cases promoted them by showing that the culprits of these crimes can act with impunity. A number of State Governments in order to increase or consolidate their constituency with political motives have passed Anti Conversion laws directly contravening the Constitution of India.
Another disturbing trend which is noticed is in calls for economic boycott on religious lines, especially of the Muslims. Economically boycotting around 14% of the population will result in plunging not only the community into economic distress but will be harmful to the entire Indian economy as you cannot have a great economy by isolating such a vast section of society.
Call to Action
In these circumstances, it is imperative that all who cherish constitutional values unite to protect and promote India’s tradition of tolerance and communal harmony. Clause (e) of Article 51A in Chapter IVA of the Constitution on Fundamental Duties mandates every citizen to foster harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all Indians, transcending religious, linguistic, regional, and sectional differences, and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Resolution
Therefore, at this conference of the PUCL, Delhi, it is resolved that, in collaboration with other organizations and individuals sharing similar objectives, we shall launch a campaign and undertake all legitimate actions to curb the menace of hate speeches and hate crimes and promote the spirit of brotherhood and harmony amongst all sections of society. This is essential to ensure that the secular and democratic foundations of the Indian State are further strengthened and secured.
We call upon the Central and State Governments:
1. to stop pandering to communal elements and follow the principle of equality of applicability of rule of law.
2. To deal strictly with the groups and individuals indulging in lynching and cow vigilante groups and treat them at par with terrorist organizations.
3. To ensure the right to practice freedom of religion and to ensure that no religious community feels its members to be deemed as second class citizens.
4. To deal strictly with groups giving calls of economic boycott of religious communities and ensure the economic progress of all groups and communities regardless of religion.
5. To pass and strictly enforce an equal opportunities law.
Arun Majhi, President
TS Ahuja, General Secretary
Message from Justice Rohintan Nariman to the Delegates
Communal harmony is a fundamental duty of every citizen of India. It is enshrined in article 51A of the Constitution of India. Indeed, in the preamble to the Constitution of India fraternity is a cardinal virtue which leads to the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the country. Communal harmony must reflect our composite culture which is again referred to in the fundamental duties chapter. It is only if we can live and let live that we can survive as a nation.
(A report of the 2 day conference will be published in the next issue.)