NCP leader prints calendar with a goat and mosque on Shri Hari Vitthala’s image ahead of Bakrid and the Hindu festival of Ashadi Ekadashi
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 
27 June, 2023
Case Summary
In Nagpur, an NCP leader printed a calendar featuring an image of a goat and a mosque superimposed on Shri Hari Vitthala, a Hindu deity. This caused outrage, especially since Ashadi Ekadashi, a Hindu festival, coincided with Bakri Eid 2023. The calendar, reportedly printed by Nagpur NCP Chief Duneshwar Pethe, triggered a backlash, leading Pethe to issue a clarification on social media. The BJP demanded an FIR against Pethe and threatened protests if action wasn't taken. The image depicted the goat on Shri Hari Vitthala's face with a mosque design overlay. After the backlash, Pethe expressed regret for the incident on Instagram.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under two prime categories. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious symbols- under which the sub-category selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses- An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The second prime category under which this case has been placed is- Hate speech against Hindus, and under this, the sub-category chosen is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith- Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involving 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 in Nagpur, where NCP leader Duneshwar Pethe printed a controversial calendar featuring a superimposed image of a goat and a mosque over the face of Shri Hari Vitthala can be perceived as an intentional act of disrespect toward Hindu sentiments. Shri Hari Vitthala, a deeply revered deity in Hinduism, holds special importance during the Ashadi Ekadashi festival, and the altered portrayal of his image was a clear attempt to mock the faith and hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. This act can be seen as a form of iconoclasm, where sacred religious symbols are distorted or desecrated. The depiction of a mosque and a goat, symbolic of Bakri Eid, placed over the image of a Hindu god, demonstrates a disregard for the sanctity of Hindu beliefs. Such actions often stem from underlying animosity toward Hindus and their religion, seeking to provoke and disrespect their spiritual values. Since such callous behaviour can only stem from a profound contempt for the Hindu religion, this case deserves to be recorded in this hate tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
