Ritual bathing at Maha Kumbh mocked by Muslim political leader, Hindu devotees called "ganja addicts"
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
11 February, 2025
Case Summary
A case was registered against Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari for making derogatory remarks about Hindu beliefs associated with the ritual bathing at Maha Kumbh. The complaint was filed on February 13, 2025, at Shadiabad Police Station by a resident of Budhpur village, named Dev Prakash Singh. Singh stated that he became aware of Ansari’s offensive comments through social media. The remarks were made on February 12 during the birth anniversary celebration of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas at the Shadiabad intersection, where Afzal Ansari was invited as the chief guest. While addressing the gathering, he mocked the Hindu belief that bathing at the Sangam during Maha Kumbh purifies a person of their sins and paves the way to Baikunth (heaven). Ansari sarcastically remarked that if sins could be washed away in this manner, then no one would remain in hell, and Baikunth would become overcrowded. The complainant also said that this was not the first time Afzal Ansari had insulted Hindu traditions and saints. Previously, he had made indecent remarks about the Maha Kumbh, calling visitors to the religious gathering "ganja addicts." He had further claimed that if a freight train full of ganja were sent to Kumbh Mela, it would all be consumed there. For these comments, he had also faced legal action. Following the complaint, Shadiabad police registered a case against Afzal Ansari under sections 299 and 253(2) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS).
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime 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 remarks made by Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari constitute a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus, as they directly target and denigrate core Hindu beliefs and sacred traditions. His mocking of the Hindu faith, particularly the revered practice of ritual bathing at the Maha Kumbh, is not merely an expression of opinion but a deliberate attempt to insult and belittle Hindu customs. By sarcastically questioning the belief that bathing at the Sangam purifies sins and facilitates one's journey to Baikunth, Ansari displayed open contempt for a deeply held religious sentiment of millions of Hindus. His words were not neutral criticism but were laced with ridicule, intended to provoke and demean Hindu devotees. Furthermore, this was not an isolated incident. His past derogatory comments about Maha Kumbh pilgrims, where he stereotyped them as drug addicts and insinuated that they would consume an entire trainload of ganja, reflect a consistent pattern of targeting Hindu religious practices with disdain. Such statements not only incite hatred but also serve to vilify an entire community, reducing their sacred spiritual gatherings to caricatures of vice and irrationality. This repeated denigration of the Hindu faith and traditions reflects the deep disdain the Muslim leader harbours for Hindus and their faith, making the case a blatant example of Hinduphobia and worthy of being documented in the tracker.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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