Derogatory image of Lord Hanuman posted on social media in Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, India 
20 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, a derogatory image depicting Lord Hanuman bowing before Dr B. R. Ambedkar was posted on social media by a man named Devendra, who identifies as an Ambedkarite. According to reports, Devendra shared this objectionable image on his Facebook account, showing Lord Hanuman bowing before Ambedkar and sitting at his feet. This post provoked outrage among Hindu organisations, who went to the police station on 21st June 2025 to protest. Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal city coordinator Akarsh Rawat filed a complaint against Devendra. According to the complaint, the accused posted a picture of Lord Hanuman sitting at the feet of Bhimrao Ambedkar on his Facebook account, which was intended to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Bundelkhand Peethadheeshwar Mahant Sitaram Das Maharaj also objected to the post and demanded action against the accused from the Collector and Superintendent of Police. Kotwali police station in-charge Upendra Chari confirmed that a case had been registered against Devendra under sections 196 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Hindu organisations warned that if strict action was not taken against the accused, they would stage a fierce agitation. Members of Hindu organisations, including Kuldeep Rawat, Monu, Vivek Chaurasia, Ashok Sen, and Pradeep Rajak, were present at the police station protesting against Devendra's actions.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker under the primary category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation. The subcategory 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. Another primary category selected in this case is- Hate Speech against Hindus. 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 has been added to the hate crime database, as the accused, an Ambedkarite, deliberately posted a derogatory image of Lord Hanuman bowing before Dr B. R. Ambedkar and sitting at his feet. This incident clearly demonstrates that the accused intentionally desecrated the sacred image of Lord Hanuman with the aim of hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Hindu deities are an integral part of the Hindu religion, and Lord Hanuman is among the most revered figures in Hinduism, known as the most devout worshipper of Lord Ram. Any attempt to desecrate his image, particularly by depicting him bowing before Ambedkar, indicates a deliberate intention to offend Hindus. Mocking or insulting any revered Hindu deity stems from animosity towards Hinduism. In this case, the objectionable image constituted a direct attack on the sanctity of the Hindu faith. It was not a random or misguided act, but rather a calculated and premeditated effort to undermine Hinduism and the broader Hindu society. It is also important to note that the accused is an Ambedkarite. Ambedkarism, as a political ideology, often expresses disdain for Hindus and their gods under the pretext of 'fighting casteism'. There have been numerous similar incidents in which Ambedkarites have displayed contempt for Hinduism, making it apparent that their ideology is less about uplifting the Dalit community and more about expressing hostility towards Hindus and their faith. Such incidents are not isolated, but form part of a deliberate pattern of attacks on Hindu deities and Hinduism, motivated by deep-seated intolerance towards the Hindu community. In recent times, social media has increasingly become a platform for anti-Hindu hate, with derogatory memes, pictures, videos, and messages targeting Hindu religious symbols, practices, and deities. Such content is recognised as part of a broader pattern of Hinduphobia online. This deliberate targeting of revered religious icons and deities firmly establishes this act as a religiously motivated hate speech against Hinduism; therefore, it is being categorised accordingly in the hate crime database. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the post 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
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
