BJP leader threatens to ‘slaughter 200,000 Muslims’ in India

A video circulated on social media showing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader threatening to slaughter 200,000 Muslims after a cow's head was found near a Hindu temple in New Delhi.

The local BJP leader, Karnell Singh, made these inflammatory remarks, which escalated communal tensions and drew widespread condemnation. 

While the police were cautioning Singh about the sensitivity of the issue, he warned them to take action within 48 hours or he would kill 200,000 Muslims residing in the region.

Incidents of vigilante violence over the alleged desecration of cows, considered sacred in Hinduism, have increased in India.

Video from India shows Karnell Singh, a leader from the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP, threatening to ‘slaughter 200,000 Muslims’ after a cow’s head was found near a Hindu temple in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/abrXcgNCJA

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 27, 2024

On Eid-ul-Adha, several individuals entered a house of a Muslim family chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', seized all the meat, and took away the fridge on suspicion of storing beef.

The remarks of the BJP leader further highlighted how rising Hindutva radicalisation in India is fueling hate crimes against Muslims, with little effort from the government to address the issue. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assumed office for a third term, made inflammatory speeches against Muslims during his election campaign. 

During his campaign, Modi referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" and "those who have many children." In one speech, he framed the election as a choice between "Ram Rajya" (the rule of the Hindu god Ram) and "Vote Jihad."

The INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party and which has garnered considerable support from Indian Muslims, is also under criticism for remaining silent on the mob lynching of Muslims and the prevailing discourse of hate against the marginalised community.