Hindu faith targeted through derogatory remarks against Lord Ram and Valmiki Ramayana in Davanagere, Karnataka
Davanagere, Karnataka, India 
8 June, 2025
Case Summary
In the Davanagere district, Karnataka, Hindu sentiments were outraged after misleading and inflammatory remarks were made about Lord Shri Ram, Hindu deities, Hindu religious beliefs, and the Valmiki Ramayana during a public event. The comments triggered objections from members of the Hindu community, as the comments were insulting to their faith and sacred religious figures. The incident drew attention because the remarks were directed at core elements of Hindu belief and worship. The event took place in Harihar of the Davanagere district, where a public programme was organised on 9 June 2026 to commemorate B. Krishnappa Jayanti and Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti. During the programme, author and rationalist K. S. Bhagwan addressed those in attendance. The gathering subsequently became the centre of controversy after statements concerning Hinduism, Lord Shri Ram, Hindu deities, and Hindu scriptures were made before the audience. During his address, K. S. Bhagwan made remarks targeting Lord Shri Ram, Hindu religious beliefs, and the Valmiki Ramayana. Statements included claims that Lord Shri Ram was not born to King Dasharatha, that Hindu gods should not be worshipped, that Hindu gods were "murderous gods", and that Valmiki had provided incorrect information in the Ramayana. Following the event, Dinesh, a resident of K. R. Nagar in Harihar, submitted a complaint concerning the statements made during the programme. The complaint stated that the remarks insulted Lord Shri Ram, Hindu deities, Hindu religious beliefs, and the Valmiki Ramayana. It further stated that the comments had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, created tension and unrest, and insulted the faith that Hindu devotees placed in their deities and scriptures. On 12th June 2025, Harihar Rural Police in Davanagere district registered a First Information Report on the basis of the complaint. A case was registered against K. S. Bhagwan under Sections 196(1)(a) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police subsequently began further investigation into the matter. At the time of reporting, the investigation remained ongoing and the case continued to be processed through the legal system.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Hate speech against Hindus. Within it, the sub-category 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. The other sub-category selected here is - Subversion of scriptures. Subverting the religious scriptures of Hindus has particularly devastating consequences. Subversion of the scriptures of Hindus is often done to justify or promote hatred, discrimination, or violence against specific individuals or groups of Hindus. Religious scriptures are often nuanced and those who harbour religious animosity towards Hindus often misquote or misrepresent the scripture to legitimise their animosity and hate towards the faith and its adherents. Any such misquoting of scriptures or subversion to justify hate, violence and discrimination against Hindus owing to religious animosity is hate speech and is categorised as such. This case has been included in the tracker because it involved public statements that directly disparaged Hindu deities and challenged the legitimacy of Hindu worship itself. Referring to Hindu gods as “murderous” and declaring that Hindu gods should not be worshipped went beyond legitimate criticism of religious practices and instead went into the realm of hate speech that targeted the objects of devotion revered by millions of Hindus. Hindu deities occupy a sacred position within the faith and form the foundation of religious worship, prayer, festivals, and spiritual life. Statements portraying them in a degrading and hostile manner attack not only the deities themselves but also the beliefs and religious identity of those who worship them. By characterising Hindu gods in such derogatory terms and discouraging their worship, the remarks demonstrated contempt towards core aspects of Hindu faith and practice. Such rhetorics were rooted in religious animosity towards Hinduism because it attempted to delegitimise the very figures that Hindus regard as divine, thereby undermining the sanctity of their beliefs and ridiculing their faith at a public forum. The religious hostility was further reinforced through the subversion of Hindu scriptures. The Valmiki's Ramayana is one of Hinduism's most revered and influential texts, forming a foundational source for the life, character, and teachings of Lord Ram. By claiming that Valmiki had provided incorrect information in the Ramayana without presenting any supporting evidence at the event, the author challenged the credibility and authority of a scripture that has been respected by Hindu communities for centuries. This was not simply a disagreement over historical interpretation but a direct attack on the reliability of a sacred text that occupies a central place within Hindu religious tradition. Scriptures serve as vehicles through which religious knowledge, values, and spiritual teachings are transmitted across generations. Publicly portraying such a foundational text as false or misleading undermines its religious standing and diminishes the faith placed in it by devotees. When viewed alongside the derogatory comments directed at Lord Ram and Hindu deities, the remarks formed part of a broader pattern of disparagement aimed at both the sacred figures and sacred texts of Hinduism. Therefore, the denigration of Hindu gods and the dismissal of the Valmiki Ramayana constituted conduct that was inherently directed at Hindu religious beliefs, making the religious dimension of the incident central rather than incidental. The statements were rooted in religious hostility; thus, has been added to the tracker.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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