Hindu sentiments outraged: Indian politician throws sacred scarves bearing images of Hindu gods at feet of people in Madhya Pradesh
Unhel, Madhya Pradesh, India 
1 June, 2026
Case Summary
In Unhel, Madhya Pradesh, sacred Hindu scarves (angavastrams) bearing images and names of Hindu gods and goddesses were deliberately desecrated by Indian politician Jitu Patwari. The accused is associated with the Indian National Congress party (INC). According to reports, on Tuesday (2 June 2026), while travelling from Indore to Mandsaur, Jitu Patwari briefly stopped at a Kisan Congress felicitation programme near Unhel. A video from the event rapidly went viral on social media. In the video, a farmer was seen presenting Patwari with a sacred scarf inscribed with the names of Shri Radha and Lord Krishna. After accepting the scarf, Patwari also removed another religious scarf already worn around his neck, which bore images of Hindu deities and threw both scarves down at the feet of the people present. After the video went viral, the Bharatiya Janata Party called out Jitu Patwari and his act of insulting Hindu symbols. Bharatiya Janata Party state media in-charge Vivek Gupta described it as an insult to Sanatan Dharma and farmers. He stated that Jitu Patwari had consistently behaved indecently. Gupta said that after commenting on Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Patwari had also insulted farmers and Hindu culture. Vivek Gupta said that by throwing away the scarf inscribed with “Shri Radhe”, which had been presented to him by farmers, Patwari had hurt Hindu religious sentiments. He added that restraint and decorum were essential in politics and that such behaviour was not in keeping with public life. In the viral video, Jitu Patwari was seen addressing the villagers, saying, “Mohan Bhaiya is abusing me... why is he abusing me... he doesn't want to talk about the interests of farmers.” Meanwhile, he was seen holding a scarf bearing the names and images of Hindu deities, which he threw down instead of wearing it. The video sparked a flurry of rhetoric in the state's politics. At the time of writing this report, there is no official response from the Indian National Congress on the matter.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is: Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is: Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. This case is a clear example of a religiously motivated hate crime, as the accused, Jitu Patwari, desecrated sacred Hindu symbols by disrespectfully throwing sacred scarves (angavastrams) onto the feet of people. The angavastrams bore the names and images of Hindu deities, making the religiously offensive nature of the act even more apparent. By treating revered religious symbols in a disrespectful manner, the accused displayed disregard for the sanctity attached to these sacred objects in Hinduism. Angavastrams hold deep religious and cultural significance in Hindu tradition. They are often offered as a mark of honour and reverence during religious ceremonies, spiritual gatherings, temple events, and felicitations. When such angavastrams bear the names or images of Hindu deities, they are regarded with even greater respect by devotees, as they symbolically represent the divine presence and blessings of the deities depicted on them. Consequently, they are treated as sacred religious articles and handled with care and reverence. The act committed by Jitu Patwari involved the disrespectful disposal of these sacred angavastrams despite their religious significance. The scarves carried the names and images of Hindu deities, transforming them from ordinary ceremonial garments into objects of religious veneration. Throwing them away in a dismissive manner amounted to a rejection of the respect and sanctity traditionally accorded to such sacred symbols within Hindu society. The act of throwing these angavastrams at the feet of people showcased deep disrespect towards Hindu sentiments and religious beliefs. In Hindu tradition, objects associated with divinity, worship, and sacred symbolism are not placed at people's feet, as doing so is regarded as disrespectful. The fact that the accused discarded angavastrams bearing the names and images of Hindu deities at the feet of those present demonstrated a disregard for the religious significance attached to them. This conduct amounted to the desecration of a sacred Hindu symbol and its sanctity and, therefore, constituted a religiously motivated hate crime directed against Hindu religious beliefs and symbols. Given that this case meets the parameters of a hate crime involving the desecration of sacred Hindu religious symbols and the affronting of religious sentiments, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
