A senior member of a Hindutva extremist group allegedly threatened, intimidated and assaulted two college students in New Delhi, with a video of the incident drawing widespread condemnation from Opposition parties and civil society across India.
The video shows Satyam Pandat, national president of the Rashtriya Hindu Veer Sena and a supporter of the BJP, stopping two students and asking whether they were Hindus or Muslims. After learning both were Hindus, he questioned why they were participating in the protest before allegedly assaulting them and forcing them to apologise for joining the demonstration.
The incident came to light a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 following a 36-day student agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The resignation sparked celebrations among protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in the capital.
As the video spread widely on social media, sharp criticism followed, with many condemning the alleged intimidation and assault of the students.
Pandat claimed the gathering was not a protest against the NEET examination but an anti-national demonstration. He alleged that the students had abused Prime Minister and Delhi Police and had made remarks against Hindu deities and the Brahmin community. Many social media users accused him of attempting to communalise the student movement and create a communally charged atmosphere through his actions.