Derogatory post targets Kanwariyas during Sawan; FIR filed against Muslim youth after Hindu outrage
Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
19 July, 2025
Case Summary
In Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim youth posted an abusive comment targeting Kanwariyas on social media. The name of the accused is Parvez Akhtar. The post, which quickly went viral, sparked outrage among local Hindus, including BJP workers and members of Hindu organisations. Kanwariyas, who undertake a pious journey during Sawan to bring Ganga Jal from places like Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Brijghat for offering to Lord Shiva in temples across the country, are deeply revered in Hindu tradition. The offensive post by Parvez Akhtar was seen as a direct attack on this age-old Hindu ritual and the beliefs associated with it. Angered by the deliberate provocation, a large number of Hindus gathered at the local Kotwali and demanded action. Former BJP Nagar President Laxmikant Saini submitted a formal complaint to the police, naming Parvez Akhtar for using derogatory language against the Kanwariyas and attempting to incite communal tension during a holy period for Hindus. Acting on the complaint, the police have registered an FIR against Parvez Akhtar under relevant sections. Kotwal Pradeep Malik confirmed that a case has been filed against the accused for spreading inflammatory content and using indecent language against Hindu devotees.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, 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. The abusive social media post made by Parvez Akhtar targeting Kanwariyas constitutes a hate crime against Hindus because it was a deliberate act of verbal attack directed at a deeply revered Hindu religious practice during a sacred period—Sawan, the month of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Kanwar Yatra is not just a cultural event but a sacred pilgrimage rooted in Hindu tradition, where devotees collect Ganga Jal to offer to Lord Shiva. Any denigration of this practice is an attack on the religious identity and beliefs of Hindus. In this case, the use of abusive language and public mocking of Kanwariyas is not just a casual insult but reflects religious animosity. It is meant to demean, provoke, and marginalise Hindus by insulting their sacred traditions. he timing of the post and its content reflect religious intolerance and an intent to provoke and insult Hindu beliefs. Such actions are not isolated comments but form part of a larger pattern of anti-Hindu slurs that aim to mock, demean, and incite hatred against Hindus for practising their faith. Hence, this case is added to the hate crime database. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the anti-Hindu pot was posted on social media. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
