Hindu organisations and Gau-Rakshaks defamed by anti-Hindu Islamic cleric, labeled 'terrorists' and 'anti-Nationals'
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India 
16 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu organisations and Gau Rakshaks (cow protectors) were defamed and labelled as 'terrorists' and 'anti-nationals' by an anti-Hindu Islamic cleric named Maulana Tauqeer Raza. As per media reports, Ved Nagar, national president of the Gau Raksha Hindu Dal, along with a delegation, lodged a police complaint against Maulana Tauqeer Raza at Badalpur police station in response to his remarks on Hindu organisations. The complaint states that the Maulana referred to cow protectors and Hindu organisations as 'terrorist organisations'. Nagar stated that such comments could disrupt the communal harmony of the country and demanded legal action against the Maulana. He said, "The country's unity and integrity are safeguarded only because of Hindu organisations." He further stated that the Maulana called nationalist Hindu organisations traitors and anti-nationals. Nagar demanded that the police register a case against Maulana Tauqeer Raza and warned that, if no action is taken, demonstrations will be organised. Several members of Hindu organisations, including Narendra Nagar, Ashok Bhati, Jai Chaudhary, Vijay Sardar, Sachin Sharma, Vijay Kumar Yogi, Pandit Bhura Tyagi, and Bunty Bhati, were present at the police station to file the complaint against the Maulana. This is not the first time Tauqeer Raza has made anti-Hindu remarks. In September 2024, he called for a ban on Hindu organisations such as the RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal by labelling them terrorists. He also threatened the government, demanding that WAQF properties be vacated, or else all Muslims would take to the streets in protest. Similarly, in July 2024, he conducted a mass conversion and nikah event where people from non-Muslim communities, including Hindus, were converted to Islam and then married. Hinduphobia Tracker had recorded this incident and explained how the Maulana's actions demonstrated his bias against the Hindu faith and his deliberate attempt to alienate the victims from their Hindu identity. In another instance in 2023, he demanded a ban on Hindu organisations following the death of two cow smugglers and threatened Hindus, stating that the sticks of Muslims are not weak. In 2022, he made a direct threat towards Hindus while addressing a crowd of 2 million Muslims. He said, “I see the anger within my Muslim youths, and I am afraid that the day this anger bursts out, the day I lose control over them. I want to warn my Hindu brothers that I’m scared that the day my Muslim youths are forced to take the law into their hands, you will not find a place to hide anywhere in India.” During the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he urged for a bloodbath in the country, saying, "We are Allah wale, what we say happens, there will be a blood bath, Inshallah.”
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. This case of Maulana Tauqeer Raza’s recent statement in Bareilly, where he labelled Hindu organisations and Gau Rakshaks (cow protectors) as ‘terrorists’ and ‘anti-nationals’, constitutes hate speech against Hindus. By equating these groups, which are at the forefront to protect Hindus and their religious interests, with terrorism and anti-national activities, Tauqeer Raza not only maligns their reputation but also incites public hostility against them. Such language goes beyond criticism and enters the realm of vilification, targeting an entire community and its organisations. This form of rhetoric is particularly dangerous in a country like India, where religious tensions always prevail. Labelling Hindu organisations as ‘terrorists’ delegitimises their social and religious work and positions them as enemies of the state. This can lead to increased social ostracism, legal harassment, and even violence against members of these organisations. It also stigmatises the broader Hindu community, as these groups represent significant religious and cultural interests and fight for the rights of the Hindu community. Tauqeer Raza’s statement is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of anti-Hindu rhetoric. Over the past few years, he has repeatedly used public platforms to make inflammatory remarks against Hindus and their organisations. In September 2024, he called for a ban on groups like the RSS, VHP, and Bajrang Dal, labelling them as terrorists and threatening mass protests if Waqf properties were not vacated. In July 2024, he organised a mass conversion event targeting non-Muslims, including Hindus, further underlining his antagonism towards the community. His Hinduphobia is further evident in previous instances where he has issued direct threats to Hindus. In 2023, following the death of two cow smugglers, he demanded a ban on Hindu organisations and warned Hindus that “the sticks of Muslims are not weak”. Similarly, in 2022, he addressed a crowd of two million, warning that if Muslim youths were provoked, Hindus would not find a place to hide in India. Such statements are designed to instil fear in the Hindu community. Such actions are a result of hatred and disdain for Hindus and their religion. Taken together, Tauqeer Raza’s remarks represent a sustained campaign of hate speech and incitement against Hindus. By consistently portraying Hindu organisations as violent and anti-national, and by issuing public threats against the Hindu community, he fosters an environment of intolerance and religious hostility. This endangers the safety and rights of Hindus, making his actions a textbook example of hate speech against the Hindu community, warranting inclusion in the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
