New Delhi: Students and faculty members of the Indian Institute of Management of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up against hate speech and growing caste-based violence in the country.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the students and faculty members stated that “your silence is encouraging the hate-filled voices in the country and increase in caste-based attacks”.

The letter has been written to the Prime Minister in the light of the recent Haridwar Dharam Sansad event where some Hindu religious leaders have openly given a call to the people to take up arms against Muslims and called for killing.

"Hate speeches and calls for violence against communities based on religion/caste identities are unacceptable, you should speak up against hate speech" stated in the letter.

Though the Indian constitution has guaranteed the right to practice one’s religion in dignity, there is a sense of fear in the country.

"There is a sense of fear in our country now - places of worship, including churches in recent days, are being vandalised, and there have been calls to take arms against our Muslim brothers and sisters. All of this is carried out with impunity and without any fear of the due process," mentioned in the letter.

The letter was signed by 183 signatories, including 13 faculty members, students and faculty members of IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Bengaluru.