Revered Hindu gods and goddesses denigrated by youth from Uttar Pradesh on social media
Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India 
21 January, 2024
Case Summary
In Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, derogatory remarks targeting revered Hindu deities, Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, were made by a youth named Divya Yashasvi. According to reports, the incident came to light on 22 January 2024 when Divya Yashasvi was arrested by Pilibhit Police for using derogatory language against Bhagwan Ram and Mata Sita on social media. Several social media users tagged Uttar Pradesh Police and Pilibhit Police under their posts, after which police swung into action and traced his location. Interestingly, in one of the posts, the accused published his address and in another, he challenged everyone to tag Pilibhit Police. Reports also stated that this incident occurred right before the consecration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. After his arrest, a case was registered against the accused at the Sungarhi police station under various sections, including the Information Technology Act and for hurting religious sentiments. Circle Officer Anshu Jain stated that upon learning of the matter, the police immediately registered a case and began investigating. The accused has been taken into custody.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been 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. This case is a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech as the accused openly abused Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, two of the most revered deities in Hinduism. Lord Ram, regarded as the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, embodies righteousness, honour, and unwavering devotion to dharma (moral duty). He is worshipped as the ideal king, husband, and son, whose life serves as a beacon of virtue for millions of Hindus. Goddess Sita, his consort, symbolises purity, loyalty, and feminine strength, inspiring successive generations by exemplifying steadfast devotion and resilience in adversity. Both deities are central to the Hindu faith and culture, deeply revered, and their worship forms an integral part of religious practice for Hindus worldwide. Any act of abusing or mocking them is a direct attack on the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, revealing deep-seated religious animosity. The accused deliberately targeted these divine figures to provoke and hurt Hindu religious feelings, making this a clearly religiously motivated crime and a blatant act of hate speech against the Hindu faith and community. Furthermore, the accused’s deliberate decision to publicise his address and openly challenge people, including urging them to tag the Pilibhit Police, demonstrates a brazen disregard for the law and the consequences of his actions. This reckless behaviour shows that the abuse was not an impulsive act borne out of a sudden fit of rage, but a premeditated and intentional act designed to humiliate Hindus and denigrate their faith publicly. Such conduct reflects a calculated intent to provoke, demean, and degrade the Hindu community, reinforcing the charge of religiously motivated hate speech. The fact that the accused committed this act before the consecration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya is highly significant. The timing of the abuse clearly showcases that the accused intended not only to abuse the revered deities but also to desecrate a sacred religious event of immense importance to Hindus that was imminent. The consecration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, held on 22 January 2024, marked the culmination of a 550-year-old wait for Hindus to reclaim and sanctify the birthplace of Lord Ram, making it a moment of profound religious significance and celebration for millions. By launching his hateful slurs before this historic event, the accused demonstrated a clear, religiously motivated intent to provoke and harm the Hindu community spiritually and culturally. This malicious timing further underscores the deep animosity behind the crime, solidifying it as a deliberate act of religious hatred and a targeted attack on the Hindu faith and identity. Given that this case meets all the parameters of religiously motivated hate speech aimed at Hindu gods and goddesses, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records the dates of incidents based on when the crime actually occurs rather than when it is reported by the media. However, in this case, the media reports have not specified the exact date when the accused made the derogatory remarks against Hindu gods and goddesses. The only date provided is that of the accused’s arrest, which was on 22 January 2024. Therefore, for documentation purposes only, this date is being taken as the indicative date of the incident.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
