As the nation moves towards saffronisation, anti-Muslim sentiment in India has reached unprecedented levels. Every opportunity is being seized to polarize and galvanize the Hindu majority against Muslims and almost every hindutva event is aimed towards furthering the religious divide. In a recent instance of recurrent blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, a self-styled Hindu preacher, has once again found himself at the center of a controversy.
During an event where he continued his tirade of hate, Saraswati stated: "Even thousands of years since Ravan committed a small mistake, we burn his effigy. But now, such criminals have taken birth that Ravan’s existence would fail in front of them. I want to exhort all Hindus from this stage—if you want to burn an effigy, burn the effigy of Mohammad." His remarks, reeking of venom, have sparked outrage, particularly among the Muslim community.
While Hindutva apologists often invoke the right to freedom of speech to defend or justify such offensive and blasphemous remarks, they fail to recognize that the public is discerning enough to differentiate between legitimate free speech and a hate speech which is aimed at further damaging the societal fabric. There is a clear demarcation between what constitutes freedom of expression and what amounts to provocative utterances, designed to inflame tensions.
It is crucial to note that this is not the first time Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati has engaged in such inflammatory rhetoric. He has a long history of making blasphemous statements, particularly against Prophet Muhammad (SAAW). Beyond that, he has frequently incited violence, calling for massacres, spreading misogynistic views, engaging in character assassinations, and peddling hateful propaganda and conspiracy theories. In 2022, Saraswati was arrested after a woman filed a complaint against him for making derogatory remarks about women. Prior to that, he made headlines when he called for the genocide of Muslims during an event called 'Dharma Sansad,' where he urged Hindus to arm themselves with "sharper weapons" for self-defense against what he described as threats posed by Islamists.
Saraswati's vitriol is not limited to Muslims, Islam, or other minorities; he has also attacked political figures, including those from his own ideological sphere, such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several viral videos depict him deriding politicians and calling them weak. He also frequently challenges Hindu youth, accusing them of being effeminate and lacking the courage to "take up arms" and "kill Muslims". His speeches are replete with calls for violence and terrorism, framed as a necessity for "saving Hinduism."
The notion that Hinduism is under threat has become a catchphrase among radical Hindu propagandists. This rhetoric is often employed to awaken the "soe hue Hindus" (the Hindus in slumber), rallying them to a perceived existential battle. Problematic and insulting remarks about Prophet Muhammad have become increasingly normalized in a saffronized India and are being used to stir tension between the two communities by deliberately inciting the Muslim sentiment.
Last month , a similar case took place where a preacher, named Ramgiri Maharaj made insulting remarks about the Prophet. That incident came at a time when Maharashtra was preparing for elections, raising concerns that this wave of hate speech was strategically timed to distract and polarize the electorate, especially Muslims.
Blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad is a deeply sensitive issue for Muslims worldwide, who view it as the most egregious attack on their faith and identity. The constant barrage of attacks has strained the patience of Muslim communities, leading them to demand harsh punitive measures for those who spread hatred. In this context, a rally organized by AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel made headlines last week, yet Hindutva elements fail to see that as a deterrent. FIRs are being registered against Saraswati across the country, and social media has been taken by a storm with calls for the administration to take decisive action against the preacher to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Muslim critics argue that calling the Prophet names is a deliberate tactic used by Hindutva bodies to provoke Muslim youth into violence. This, they contend, provides Hindutva forces with the opportunity to paint Muslims as "violent extremists" and "jihadis," thereby justifying further crackdowns. The demand for strict measures against anti-social elements like Saraswati is growing, as many believe that failure to act would allow the continued spread of divisive propaganda, further destabilizing an already tense society.
As the debate over free speech versus hate speech intensifies, it is imperative that legal action is taken against individuals who incite violence and blaspheme under the guise of free expression. Equally important is fostering a societal consensus that rejects the poisonous narratives being peddled, ensuring that communities are not torn apart by hatred. Only through decisive and unified action can India hope to protect its social harmony in the face of such hate-driven provocations.