Derogatory remarks passed against Hindu deities and temples in an attempt to convert Hindus to Buddhism
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India 
16 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, an illegal conversion racket was busted with the police filing a case against 26 Buddhists. According to the police, the accused were attempting to convert individuals by delivering inflammatory speeches against Hindu gods and goddesses and Hindu temples. According to the complainant, the key accused was a Buddhist Katha Vachak named Rama Bharti. The FIR also mentioned members of an organisation called Sankalpit Committee, including its president Ramjeevan, Rangilal, Mukesh Kumar, director Shambhu Gautam, and vice-president Rajesh Gautam, along with Bhim Army tehsil convener Ashwani Sharma and several others as co-accused. This sparked outrage among the local Hindu community. According to media reports, a Buddhist religious event was being conducted on 17th March 2025 in Ayodhya's Singh Purwa. During the event, multiple offensive statements were made against Hindu deities in the religious sermon (Katha). An audio recording of a conversation between Hindu Sher Sena's national president, Vikas, and Rama Bharti, also went viral. Several Hindu villagers, including Anil Singh, Shivam, Avnish, and Shobhit, filed a written complaint with the police, alleging that Hindu gods, goddesses, and temples were being repeatedly insulted during the event. It was also stated that the event was conducted without any official permission. CO Sadar Dinesh Shukla stated that a case was registered against the 26 individuals under sections related to making inflammatory statements, disrupting public peace, and disturbing social harmony. He added that additional charges would be considered based on the findings of the investigation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Predatory proselytisation. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attempting to convert/converting by denigrating Hinduism. In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. In this particular case, the Buddhists were overtly trying to convert Hindus by abusing and disparaging Hindu Gods and Goddesses and temples. In an effort to indoctrinate Hindus against their religion—which itself is a product of hostility towards the Hindu faith—they were making derogatory remarks about Hindu deities. This tactic is usually employed not only to assert the perceived superiority of their own religious beliefs over Hinduism but also to instil doubt in the minds of Hindus, making them more susceptible to conversion. Since exploiting vulnerabilities for the explicit purpose of conversion is purely based on animosity towards the victim's faith, this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
