Chicken biryani sold on plates featuring Lord Ram's pictures in Delhi's Jahangirpuri
North West Delhi, Delhi, India 
20 April, 2024
Case Summary
In Delhi's Jahangirpuri, a shop owner was arrested for serving chicken biryani on disposable plates featuring pictures of Lord Ram. The incident sparked outrage when local Hindu organisations noticed the images and confronted the vendor, expressing concerns about the plates being discarded after use, thus disrespecting religious sentiments. Police intervened amid the chaos, recovering a packet of such plates and taking the accused into custody. Viral videos show bundles of plates with Lord Ram's pictures and the cover of a book titled 'Ramayana Unravelled' by Ami Ganatra. The incident led to widespread condemnation, with demands for action against the culprits. Authorities are investigating whether the act was for marketing or to deliberately offend religious sentiments.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols' and under this, the sub-category 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. Hinduism reveres and regards its deities as sacrosanct. Using the images of the Hindu deities in a context that is deemed inappropriate or disrespectful, in this case, printed on plates used for serving non-veg food, is considered sacrilegious and driven by a deep-seated animosity and deliberately insulting against Hinduism and therefore listed in the hate tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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