Elderly Muslim hawker forced to chant Hindu slogans in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow: An elderly Muslim hawker was forced to chant Hindu religious slogans by a Hindutva youth in BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh state, in an incident that has sparked outrage on social media and renewed concerns over religious harassment in Modi’s India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a video circulating widely online shows the elderly Muslim vendor being intimidated by a youth in Lakhimpur Kheri district and pressured to repeatedly chant Hindu slogans.
The footage shows the elderly man appearing visibly distressed as the youth, recording the video, repeatedly demands that he chant religious slogans. The man can be heard pleading for the recording to be stopped, saying, “Stop recording the video, I will say it.”
Following repeated pressure, the elderly vendor is heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” The person behind the camera then asks him to repeat additional slogans, including “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Jai Bhole Ki.” The man responds that he has already repeated the slogans and questions why he is being compelled to say them again and again.
The video has drawn widespread criticism on social media, with many users describing the incident as humiliating and discriminatory. Several users argued that no individual should be intimidated or coerced into making religious declarations against their will.
“This is not about any particular slogan. The issue is whether someone is being forced, intimidated or publicly humiliated because of their identity,” one social media user wrote while sharing the footage.
The incident quickly gained public attention, with users tagging Uttar Pradesh Police and local authorities and demanding action against those responsible.
Rights activists and community leaders said the episode reflects a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation faced by Muslims in India, particularly in BJP-ruled states, where individuals are increasingly targeted on the basis of their religious identity.
The video has once again raised concerns over the safety, dignity and religious freedom of minorities amid the rising influence of Hindutva groups across India under Modi.
