Lord Shiva denigrated with abusive language and obscene gestures by Congress leader
Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, India 
16 October, 2024
Case Summary
A controversy erupted after a video surfaced of Congress MLA Babu Jandel from Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, making offensive remarks about Hindu deity Lord Shiva. In the video, which went viral, Jandel used abusive language and gestures while mentioning Lord Shiva multiple times, leading to accusations from the BJP that he is anti-Hindu. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed an FIR against Jandel, stating his statements insulted Hindu sentiments and demanded strict action. In response, protests erupted, including effigy burnings by BJP supporters and calls from Hindu activists for further action against Jandel. Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma condemned Jandel’s remarks, framing them as disrespectful to Sanatan Hindu beliefs and challenging Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to respond to the incident. Jandel defended himself, alleging the video was tampered with to damage his reputation and claiming it was an old clip.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime under the primary category of "Hate Speech Against Hindus" in the tracker. Additionally, it has been assigned the sub-category "Anti-Hindu Slurs, Mocking Faith" based on the specific details of the incident. 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. Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, revered as a key figure in the divine trinity including Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver. Known as the destroyer and transformer, Shiva holds a central place in Hindu worship and spiritual symbolism. Disparaging or denigrating Lord Shiva is not merely offensive but is seen as an affront to the Hindu faith, as it disrespects a deity deeply revered across Hindu communities. Acts or statements that mock or insult Shiva are, therefore, perceived as attacks on the broader Hindu religion and its core beliefs. In this instance, Congress MLA Babu Jandel made abusive remarks and gestures toward the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Such statements are viewed as not only disrespectful to Hindu beliefs but also as an expression of animosity toward the faith. By making the disparaging remarks and gestures, the Congress leader revealed his disdain for Hinduism. His words are not just casual insults but indicate a deeper hostility, fueled by a desire to demean and belittle Hindu beliefs and customs. As such, this incident is being categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
