Hindu far-right pushes online boycott of Muslim vendors during Diwali
Verified users spread hate-filled calls to shun Muslim sellers during festival season, echoing the growing pattern of exclusion across India
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — As India prepared for Diwali, one of its biggest Hindu festivals, far-right Hindu social media users launched a coordinated campaign on X, formerly Twitter, urging Hindus to boycott Muslim shopkeepers and street vendors.
The online drive — amplified by verified accounts with blue ticks — called on buyers to “choose Hindu” and avoid purchasing from Muslim sellers offering traditional clay lamps and decorations for Diwali.
Many posts framed the boycott as an act of religious loyalty, while others invoked anti-Muslim tropes and conspiracy theories linking local businesses to terrorism.
One verified user referenced the 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir to stoke anger against Muslims, telling followers to “buy only from Hindus.”
Another urged users to check the seller’s name on India’s UPI payment app before making a purchase — a tactic that analysts say reinforces economic segregation. Some posts reached more than 250,000 views in a matter of days.
Other accounts circulated cartoons and AI-generated images depicting Muslim traders with Pakistani flags or violent stereotypes, while hashtags calling to boycott “Halal products” gained traction.
One post claimed that buying from Muslims funds “terrorism, love jihad, and conversions,” reflecting a broader pattern of Islamophobic narratives mainstreamed on Indian social media.
The campaign spilled offline as well. In the central city of Indore, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal — groups affiliated with the Hindu supremacist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — put up posters urging Hindus to buy only from co-religionists ahead of Diwali.
Rights advocates warn that such boycott drives deepen existing patterns of discrimination in India’s informal economy, where many Muslims depend on street vending and small trade. They note that online hate campaigns increasingly translate into real-world economic marginalisation, particularly during Hindu religious festivals.
Since Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022, X has faced mounting criticism for its failure to curb hate speech and disinformation. Studies by digital watchdogs have found that content targeting Muslims, Dalits, and other minorities remains easy to find — and is often monetised through the platform’s engagement-based revenue model.
Analysts say the latest boycott calls highlight how India’s far-right ecosystem continues to weaponise social media to normalise exclusion, echoing earlier campaigns against Halal food, Muslim-owned businesses, and interfaith relationships.
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