Srinagar, June 20, 2026 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday expressed concern over what she described as the increasing normalization of hate speech in the country, alleging that such rhetoric threatens social harmony and deepens divisions among communities.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Mehbooba Mufti criticized the BJP’s vision of Viksit Bharat, claiming that hate speech has become increasingly common and unchecked.
“This is what the BJP’s so-called Viksit Bharat looks like, hate speech normalised to the extent that even unborn Muslim children are threatened,” Mehbooba Mufti said in her post.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister further alleged that minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Dalits, and Adivasis, are facing growing marginalization and called for greater public resistance against divisive rhetoric.
“Homes and mosques are demolished with impunity, while Muslims, Christians, Dalits and Adivasis are increasingly pushed to the margins. Ongoing silence in the face of such rhetoric only emboldens those who seek to divide our society,” she stated.
Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks came in response to the alleged hate speech controversy involving Lalit Sharma, president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, who has been accused of making inflammatory comments targeting Muslim women and unborn children.
The comments have sparked criticism from various quarters, with demands for action against hate speech and calls to uphold constitutional values of equality, communal harmony, and mutual respect.
Political reactions to such incidents continue to reflect broader concerns about social cohesion, freedom of expression, and the responsibility of public figures in maintaining peace and unity in a diverse society.
The issue has once again brought the debate over hate speech, communal harmony, and accountability in public discourse into sharp focus, with several political and civil society voices advocating strict action against statements that could promote hostility or discrimination.
