As India faces rising polarization, anti-Muslim sentiment continues to escalate, driven by extremist elements within the Hindutva movement. In a disturbing recent incident, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, a self-styled Hindu preacher notorious for his inflammatory rhetoric, has sparked nationwide outrage by calling for the burning of effigies of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
During a public event, Saraswati compared the Prophet ﷺ to Ravana, a villain from Hindu mythology, saying: “For thousands of years, we have burned Ravana’s effigy for his mistakes. But now, such criminals have been born that even Ravana would pale in comparison. If you wish to burn an effigy, burn the effigy of Mohammad.”
His venomous remarks have drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from the Muslim community.
Hindutva supporters often invoke the right to free speech in defence of such rhetoric, but critics argue that Saraswati’s statements cross the line into hate speech, designed to provoke and inflame communal tensions. The difference between free expression and speech that incites hatred and division has become a key issue, as incidents like this contribute to a growing divide in Indian society.
Saraswati is a repeat offender in this regard, with a history of making blasphemous statements against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Islam. His speeches often incite violence, as seen in his previous calls for the genocide of Muslims during the so-called ‘Dharma Sansad’ in 2022, where he urged Hindus to arm themselves against perceived threats. His hateful rhetoric extends beyond religious minorities, as he has also attacked political figures and Hindu youth, accusing them of cowardice for not engaging in violence.
The frequent use of insulting and blasphemous remarks about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has become increasingly normalized in India, particularly as Hindutva forces seek to provoke Muslim communities and deepen religious divides. Just last month, a similar incident occurred when another preacher, Ramgiri Maharaj, made derogatory comments about the Prophet ﷺ, which coincided with election preparations in Maharashtra, raising concerns that such hate speech is being strategically deployed for political gains.
For Muslims worldwide, blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a deeply sensitive matter, seen as an attack on their faith and identity. The continued barrage of such attacks has led to increasing demands for strict legal action against those responsible for spreading hatred. Recently, AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel organized a rally to protest such inflammatory statements, but despite FIRs being lodged against Saraswati in the length and breadth of the country, Hindutva elements remain undeterred.
Many Muslim leaders argue that these provocations are a deliberate tactic to incite violence among Muslim youth, allowing Hindutva forces to further demonize the community as “violent extremists.” The growing demand for decisive action against figures like Saraswati reflects a broader concern that allowing such rhetoric to continue unchecked will only further destabilize an already fragile social fabric.
As debates over free speech and hate speech intensify, it is crucial that legal steps are taken to curb speech that incites violence and blasphemes under the pretence of freedom. Only through strong legal and societal responses can India hope to preserve its social harmony in the face of such divisive provocations.