Attack on Hindu religious sentiments: Muslim 'actor' mocks revered Hindu sage and sacred chant
India 
19 July, 2024
Case Summary
A revered Hindu sage, Narada Muni, and the sacred chant "Narayana Narayana" were mocked by the infamous Muslim actor Ajaz Khan. This occurred on 20th July 2024, when a video featuring Bollywood actor Ajaz Khan became widely circulated, in which he ridiculed the Hindu sage Narada Muni, describing him as 'untrustworthy.' The controversial statements were made during a media interaction, where Khan accused the YouTuber Love Kataria of betraying his friend by disclosing secrets. Khan compared Kataria's behaviour to that of Narada Muni, a venerated figure in the Hindu faith, stating, "This is like Narada Muni. Narayana, Narayana. Kataria should change his name to Narayana.” The video ignited indignation on social media, with numerous users criticising Khan for his irreverent comments. In response to the strong public reaction, Ajaz Khan issued an apology on 21st July 2024. Ajaz wrote, "Hello everyone. I heartily apologise if I have hurt my Hindu brothers and sisters about my “Narayan” remark, It was not deliberate as I always say you read my Quran and I read your Geeta, which clearly states my respect for Hindu religion and not only that I respect every religion as I respect mine… I meant Narad muni and not lord Narayana in the reference of that statement… I truly apologise if I have hurt anyone🙏... God is one ☝️ 🙏🏻....Jai hind." Notably, this isn't the first time Ajaz Khan has found himself in such controversies. Previously, in 2018, the actor stated that he would choose the Qur’an over the Indian Constitution on any day. He was previously incarcerated for drug trafficking and had previously encouraged forty crore (400 million) Muslims (both legal and illegal residents) to take to the streets and cause civil unrest.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. The subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. In this case, the comments made by the Muslim actor Ajaz Khan, in which he ridiculed Narada Muni by calling him 'untrustworthy' and likening him to a betrayer, constituted a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech. Narada Muni is a figure of immense and profound significance in the Hindu faith. He is revered as a divine sage (Devarishi), the mind-born son of Brahma (the creator god), and a celestial messenger who traverses the three worlds. He is celebrated for his wisdom, his deep knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas, and his unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu. To denigrate such a foundational, revered personality by associating his name with deceit and betrayal was a direct and deliberate affront to Hindu sentiments, attacking a core figure who symbolises spiritual insight and knowledge. Furthermore, Khan’s act of mockery extended to the sacred chant "Narayana, Narayana," which he uttered derisively alongside the insult to Narada Muni. The name Narayana is one of the most important and popular names of Lord Vishnu, the preserver deity of the Hindu Trinity. The chant Om Namo Narayanaya is a principal mantra in Vaishnavism, and the simple repetition of 'Narayana' is considered extremely potent, believed to destroy sins, bestow liberation (moksha), and signify total surrender to God. By invoking this highly sacred chant in a context of malice and betrayal, Khan not only belittled the spiritual practice but also showed profound disrespect for the deity and the devotional path followed by millions of Hindus, amplifying the anti-Hindu nature of the attack. Ajaz Khan deliberately chose to denigrate Hindu faith and its deities by using a revered sage and sacred chant to mock a non-religious spat involving a YouTuber. The core of the matter was a non-religious issue—one individual accusing another of betrayal—yet Khan chose not to use a non-religious insult but instead targeted a fundamental figure of Hinduism, Narada Muni, and the holy chant Narayana. This action of weaponising highly sacred symbols of Hinduism for a trivial, non-religious argument demonstrated his profound lack of respect for the Hindu community and their beliefs. By deliberately choosing to insult Hindu revered figures over non-revered ones or common secular slurs, he clearly signalled his contempt for the Hindu faith. This attack on Hindu revered figures was not an isolated incident but rather fit a clear pattern of religious animosity and provocation demonstrated throughout Ajaz Khan's history. His prior statements, such as publicly declaring he would choose the Qur’an over the Indian Constitution, already showcased a deeply divisive and Islamist mindset. Furthermore, he had a documented history of inciting Muslims to create unrest over any supposed disrespect to Islam. His readiness to instantly denigrate revered Hindu sages and chants, contrasted with his history of mobilising a community over perceived insults to his own faith, highlighted a clear religious prejudice and double standard aimed squarely at marginalising and provoking the Hindu community. His actions overall amount to an instance of anti-Hindu hate speech; therefore, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
