Hindu symbols insulted during Buddhist discourse in UP; apology issued after protest
Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, India 
11 June, 2025
Case Summary
In the Salempur village, under the jurisdiction of Rajepur police station, during a Buddhist discourse, the narrator made derogatory remarks about sacred Hindu symbols—Kalava (sacred thread) and Tilak. The remarks deeply offended Hindu sentiments and led to immediate protest by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), including district minister Vimlesh Mishra and other Hindu activists. In response to the incident, a meeting was convened at Rajepur police station from 10 AM to 2 PM. The dialogue included both parties and was mediated by Amritpur Circle Officer Ajay Verma, Station House Officer Naveen Kumar Singh, District Panchayat Member Rahul Kushwaha, event organiser Anil Kushwaha, and other local representatives. The VHP strongly objected to the narrator’s public comments, terming them a direct insult to Hindu religious traditions. VHP’s Vimlesh Mishra and his supporters demanded a public apology from the narrator for the offensive remarks. During the police-mediated dialogue, Anil Kushwaha, the organiser and resident of Salempur, issued a written apology. He acknowledged that the comments made during the discourse regarding Kalava and Tilak were inappropriate and assured that such a mistake would not be repeated in the future. However, the discussion was not without friction. A verbal exchange took place between Vimlesh Mishra and District Panchayat Member Rahul Kushwaha. Tensions ran high for a brief period, but the situation was brought under control. A mutual understanding was eventually reached between both parties. Speaking to the press, Circle Officer Ajay Verma stated, “Both sides have reached an amicable resolution. The organiser, Anil Kushwaha, has submitted a written apology on behalf of the narrator and has assured that such remarks will not be made in the future.”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category 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 incident at Salempur village, where a narrator during a Buddhist discourse made derogatory remarks about the sacred Hindu symbols of Kalava (sacred thread) and Tilak, constitutes a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech. In Hindu tradition, the Tilak and Kalava are not mere cultural accessories but sacred symbols deeply embedded in religious practice and identity. These symbols are publicly worn with reverence and reflect the practitioner’s connection to Sanatan Dharma. When such deeply venerated symbols are mocked in a public forum, as occurred in the Salempur incident, it constitutes more than a personal insult—it becomes a direct attack on the Hindu faith itself. The deliberate ridiculing of Tilak and Kalava amounts to hate speech against Hindus, as it targets visible markers of their religion in a manner that demeans, stereotypes, and marginalises them. Hence, it is included in the hate crime database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
