Navigating Hate: A serial offender’s unchecked rhetoric in BJP’s Era

Serial hate offender, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati has made headlines with his latest brand of hate speech that has resulted in mass protests and agitations. The self-proclaimed religious preacher and priest of Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad, Yati Narsinghanand made derogatory hate remarks against Prophet Muhammad on September 29, 2024 at Hindi Bhawan in Ghaziabad’s Lohianagar (Uttar Pradesh).  Not only has he encouraged people this time to burn effigies of the Prophet instead of Ravana on Dussehra — a comment that led to widespread anger among the Muslim community—he has through his speeches frequently made egregious and filthy insinuations. One common one being that self-employed workers (plumbers, electricians, delivery boys, vegetable vendors who are Muslim) enter Hindu homes, befriend Hindu women who then fall prey to the ‘Jihadis’! On ground protests have resulted at Kashmir under the banner of different Islamic organizations on October 5, 2024, denouncing the Serial Hate Offender Yati Narsinghanand. The protesters called for Yati’s immediate arrest and stern action for his derogatory remarks. Similarly, in Saharanpur, Aligarh, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad and across the country, massive demonstration were organized by the members of Muslim community over Yati Narsinghanand’s blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

The speech was delivered at an event organised by the Major Ashram Vyag Seva Sansthan at the Dasna Devi Temple, where Yati Narsinghanand serves as head priest. A video of his remarks quickly went viral on social media, provoking widespread outrage. Media reports thereafter have indicated that he was detained by the Ghaziabad Police for making derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad. However, this detention appeared to be a protective measure rather than an arrest, as there has been no confirmation of any FIR filed against him in connection with his remarks, nor has he been presented before a court nor arrested. This raises concerns about the nature of his detention.

The police’s provision of protection to Yati Narsinghanand under the guise of detention raises significant concern. Despite reports of his detention, his unclear whereabouts suggest that he is being shielded rather than held accountable by the authorities of the UP police. Amid discussions on social media regarding Narsinghanand’s whereabouts, Surendra Nath Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) stated that no arrest or detention related to the incident had been made as of late Saturday night (October 5). This clarification from the DCP came in response to rumours circulating about Narsinghanand’s detention, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

What’s striking is that despite multiple FIRs across the country and protests against Yati’s hate speech, no serious penal action has been taken against him or his supporters, who continue to propagate his divisive rhetoric on social media. In sharp contrast, the police have arrested six persons for allegedly pelting stones at police personnel near the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad during the protest against the Yati’s derogatory remark.

Yati Narsinghanand, labelled a serial hate offender, remains free under the BJP rule, raising serious questions about both the union and state government’s partisan approach while dealing with incidents of hate speech. The BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has faced intense criticism for its inaction despite Narsinghanand’s repeated inflammatory remarks targeting the Muslim community. His derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad and Islam have sparked widespread protests, yet authorities have failed to hold him accountable or pursue meaningful legal action against him. Furthermore, he has not faced prosecution from the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand government for organizing the controversial Dharam Sansad in December 2021 in Haridwar, where he openly called for genocide against Muslims.

Multiple FIRs registered against Yati Narsinghanand for his remark against Prophet

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

The Ghaziabad, Sihani Gate Police Station filed a suo-moto FIR on October 3, 2024, booking Narsinghanand for his derogatory remark and hate speech delivered at the Hindi Bhawan, Lohia Nagar in Ghaziabad district. An FIR was registered under section 302 (hurting someone’s religious feelings) of the BNS based on a complaint by police sub-inspector Trivendra Singh Singh. “We have not arrested him yet,” said Sachin Kumar, Station House Officer, Sihani Gate Police Station, adding the police have taken cognisance of a video of the alleged hate speech that has since gone viral. Police also registered a suo moto FIR at Wave City police station over the protest on October 4, against 100-150 unidentified persons.

According to Hindustan Times, “about 100-150 persons gathered outside the Dasna Devi temple and were raising slogans against the remarks made against Muhammad Paigamber Sahab. When stopped, they resorted to stone-pelting and prevented discharge of official duties,” the FIR stated.

Thane, Maharashtra

An FIR against Yati registered in Maharashtra’s Thane district over his inflammatory remark against Prophet Muhammad. The FIR has been registered based on the complaint by the president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The FIR has been lodged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 302 (intentionally uttering words to deliberately wound the religious sentiments of another person).

Hyderabad, Telangana

On October 6, 2024, the Hyderabad Police registered an FIR against Yati Narsinghanand, following a complaint lodged by the Hyderabad MP and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his derogatory remark on Prophet Muhammad. The FIR was booked by the Cyber Crime police station of the city police under relevant provisions of the IT Act and the BNS.

Yati Narsinghanand disappeared after remark: Police’s crackdown on Protesters

Following the speech, the derogatory subject sparked a mass protest and filing of multiple FIRs against serial hate offender Yati Narsinghanand’s derogatory remark against prophet Muhammad in Ghaziabad, tensions escalated in Sheikhpura Kadeem village, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday, October 6, 2024, following alleged defamatory remarks by priest Yati Narsinghanand about Prophet Muhammad. As per reports, alleged stone-pelting from protesters, prompted police to use mild force to disperse the crowd. Additional police units were deployed to maintain law and order in the village. Approximately 1,500 residents submitted a memorandum at the Kotwali Dehat police station in response to the controversial comments targeting Islam and the Muslim community. Although the police accepted the memorandum in the village, some individuals attempted to reach the police post, but were intercepted by authorities.

According to The Print, the police in Saharanpur district have arrested 13 persons in connection with stone pelting at Sheikhpura police post during a protest against controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad.

On October 8, 2024, in a retaliation action against the protesters who were protesting against Yati’s remark, 15 protesters were held in Meerut for ‘unauthorized’ protest against Yati Narsinghanad. As per a report in the Deccan Herald, Meerut Police on Tuesday arrested 15 people for leading an unauthorised protest against controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand in the Mundali area of Meerut, a day after their demonstration, officials said. 

The detailed piece on the protest may be read here.

Journalist booked for exposing hate: questions on Police neutrality

An FIR has been filed against Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, for provoking violence against Yati Narsinghanand. The Complaint against Zubair is based on a complaint made by Narsinghanand’s aide, Udita Tyagi, General Secretary of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation. In her complaint she alleged that Zubair posted an old video of Narsinghanand on October 3, 2024 to provoke violence against him (Yati). 

According to Sabrang India, the FIR was filed two days after protests against Narsinghanand for making anti-Islamic comments against Prophet Mohammad had taken place at the Dasna temple, where Narsinghanand serves as the head priest. Tyagi, in her complaint, had accused Zubair of sharing edited video clips of Narsinghanand’s speeches on social media, allegedly to provoke violence by Muslims against the priest. She claimed that Zubair posted a video from an old program of Narsinghanand on October 3, which, she said, was aimed at stirring unrest. According to Tyagi, Zubair’s posts on October 4 and 5 escalated tensions and nearly led to an attack on the Dasna temple. Tyagi also stated that she was present with Narsinghanand at the temple during the alleged attack and that they barely escaped due to police intervention. It is to be noted that a total of ten people have been arrested by the police after the protest allegedly turned violent.

The stark contrast in police action towards Muhammad Zubair and Yati Narsinghanand reveals a troubling bias within law enforcement in Uttar Pradesh. While Zubair faces harsh scrutiny and potential legal repercussions, Narsinghanand continues to operate freely despite multiple FIRs against him for inciting hate and violence. This disparity raises serious concerns about the protection offered to hate speakers under the BJP-led government, suggesting a troubling trend of selective enforcement.

Hate Offender Profile: Yati Narsinghanand

Born Deepak Tyagi, Yati Narsinghanand claims to have an MTech degree in Chemical Engineering, from what was then known as the Moscow Institute of Chemical Machine Building. Once he completed his course he worked as an engineer, headed marketing teams at several companies in the Russian capital as well as in London. After nine years abroad, he returned to India in 1997 and has been with the Dasna Devi temple situated in Ghaziabad for over a decade as head priest and actively working for his divisive agenda. In 2020, Narsinghanand’s followers brutally assaulted a 14- year-old Muslim boy who was drinking water from the Dasna temple premises in Uttar Pradesh. After the incident, a large board was put up at the entrance of the temple stating “Ye Mandir Hinduon Ka Pavitra Sthal Hai. Yahan Musalmano Ka Pravesh Varjit Hai” (This temple is holy for Hindus, the entry of Muslims is strictly forbidden, as per instructions by Narsinghanand Saraswati). 

Image Courtesy: BBC

In 2021, he was appointed as the Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara, which is believed to be the most important among the 13 Akharas (monastery), of Hindu monastic orders, in the country. 

Narsinghanand engages in daily content creation to connect with his followers through provocative statements and misleading narratives. Although he lacks a personal page on Meta (Facebook), his supporters maintain a robust presence through fan pages. These pages frequently feature narratives portraying Muslims as involved in various forms of jihad, amplifying divisive themes and fostering an environment of contention. Narsinghanand’s approach highlights the power of social media in shaping discourse and influencing public perception, as his supporters actively propagate these hate-ridden ideas to a wider audience. 

In 2019, a Facebook live video of Yati Narsinghanand shared by BJP supporter Hanuman Singh Rajpurohit on October 19, 2019, garnered a staggering 32 million views. In this video, Narsinghanand openly declared, “I hate Islam and I want to eliminate Islam from the face of the Earth,” making incendiary remarks against Muslims while rallying a cheering crowd. The video was subsequently removed by Meta (Facebook) for violating community guidelines after several complaints were filed including the first one by Citizens for Justice and Peace against his video. On March 10, 2021, CJP filed a complaint with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Minority Affairs the Yati Narsinghanand’s inflammatory and anti-minority speech. CJP is actively working to curb hate-ridden and divisive agendas of such individuals and organisations like Yati Narsinghanand through its tireless efforts.

For example, on July 11, 2021, CJP approached the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), to take cognisance of the vile and anti-minority statements made by one Vikas Sehrawat alias Malik Sehrawat, who is also a disciple of the priest, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati. CJP has reported on a video uploaded by Vikas on his Facebook page on April 11, 2021, one day after he was released from jail on bail for uploading an incendiary video against politician Alka Lamba and calling for violence against Muslims in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. In the video uploaded on April 11, he abused the Aam Aadmi Party leader Amanatullah Khan and NDTV’s renowned journalist Ravish Kumar. In response, NCM issued notice to the DIG Meerut on CJP’s complaint against Yati Narsinghanand’s follower and directed to Meerut’s Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) to file a detailed report within 15 days.

While continuing the combat against the hate-ridden communal agendas of Yati Narsinghanad and his followers, CJP in November 2021, approached the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) once again against two of his followers, Suresh Rajput and Rahul Sharma who during a live session on Facebook made a series of vile and hateful statements about the women who held the internationally documented anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest at Shaheen Bagh.

On August 11, 2021, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) strongly presented its case before the Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, against Yati Narsinghanand’s derogatory statements about workers like plumbers, electricians, delivery boys, vegetable vendors who are Muslims, who enter Hindu homes for work, befriend Hindu women who then fall prey to the ‘Jihadis’. The complaint has highlighted how such statements tend to not only create a prejudice against honest, hardworking people from the Muslim community who might be working as plumbers, electricians etc. but also has the distinct possibility – given the political and social capital enjoyed by the speaker – to cause prejudice and adversely affect their livelihood. CJP urged the NCM to initiate a suo moto Inquiry/Investigation against Yati Narsinghanad’s hateful speech targeting the Muslim Community and inciting Hindus.

In September, 2022, in an event organised by the Hindu Mahasabha in Aligarh (UP), while referring to Aligarh as the place from where the “seed of India’s partition” was sown, Yati Narsinghanand exhorted that the Aligarh Muslim University should be demolished using bombs. Through his devastating remark he exhorted that AMU should be blown up with gunpowder, while making provocative statements saying that we should practice the policy of China and send the students of the madrassas to detention camps.

In line with forwarding hateful propagandas and divisive ideology, Yati Narsinghanand on April 3, 2023 was present at an event of “Hindu Jagruti Sammelan”, organised by the right-wing extremist outfits in New Delhi’s Holiday Inn in the presence of many police officers, where many serial hate offender including Yati Narsinghanand made deliberate attempts to spread hate and enmity against Islam. Yati Narsinghanand exhorted through his speech that “Now has come the time to unite the entire world against Islam and its jihad.” He maligned the Islamic Faith while saying that “We have to take over the temple in Mecca as well where Mahadev’s Ganga flows as Zamzam (river). He then went on to call the supposed temple in Mecca as “Mecceshwar Mahadev”. 

On June 18, 2023, he sparked outrage and tensions again with his inflammatory speech against Muslims in Dasna, Uttar Pradesh. As the organizer of the infamous December 2021 Haridwar ‘Dharam Sansad’, he’s consistently spread anti-Muslim hate, advocating for genocide and violence in Uttar Pradesh and across the country. This self-proclaimed Hindu leader openly supports harmful acts against Indian Muslims, aiming to create a Muslim-free India. His other speech delivered on June 18, targeted Muslims to fuel his divisive agenda, introducing the ‘Hindu Bachao Morcha’. Narsinghanand’s incendiary rhetoric led to detention by Ghaziabad police.

In September 2023, Yati Narsinghanand escalated his hateful rhetoric by making shocking remarks about the revered former president APJ Abdul Kalam, labelling him a “traitor” and using derogatory language against Muslims. His statements, which suggested that Kalam represented a violent threat and demeaned his accomplishments, exemplify a disturbing pattern of communal hatred. Such incendiary language not only disrespects a national icon but also fuels division and hostility within society. In his speech he said that “APJ Abdul Kalam is one of the biggest traitors in India. APJ Abdul Kalam is one of those people who are ghaatak (prone to violence); the world should not have such people. He was not very special, did not have a PhD and was given just an honorary doctorate. The thing is that Muslims like APJ Abdul Kalam are more violent than ‘ordinary jihadis’. Traitors like him, we (Hindus) can’t accept it as a weak community. People like APJ Abdul Kalam are like the rakshasa.” In response to his blatant derogatory remark and violation of the law, the Ghaziabad police booked him under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 295A, 505(1), and 67 of the IT Act 2000.

It’s shocking and concerning that, despite numerous FIRs lodged against Yati Narsinghanand, there has been a glaring lack of effective investigation, police inaction and accountability. A 2022 BBC report revealed that the police only provided details on ten of the more than twenty cases against him, which include serious charges like attempted murder and abetment of suicide. This pattern of inaction raises alarming questions about the commitment to uphold the law and protect vulnerable communities from hate speech and call for violence by serial hate offenders like Yati Narsinghanand. The systemic failure due to communal influence of ‘Saffronisation of politics’ such egregious offenses and attempts not only undermining the safety of minorities but also emboldens individuals who perpetuate communal discord.

It’s important to note that Yati Narsinghanand and his followers were booked by the Mahmoodabad Police Station in Sitapur (UP) in year 2019, after they met the family of Kamlesh Tiwari, a leader of a Hindu outfit who was killed at his residence-cum-office on October 18, 2019. Narsinghanand delivered a two-minute speech filled with hate and inciting remarks against the Muslim community.

Yati’s Dharam Sansad in Haridwar: a stage for Hate and Division

The Haridwar Dharam Sansad (Religious Parliament) was organized in Haridwar, Uttarakhand from December 17 to 19, 2021, and was organized under the theme “Islamic Bharat Mein Sanatan Ka Bhavishya” (The Future of Sanatan in an Islamic India). The event featured various right-wing religious leaders, with Yati Narsinghanand being one of the prominent speakers. At the Dharam Sansad, several self-proclaimed religious leaders, including Serial Hate Offender Yati Narsinghanand espoused a hard, right-wing, exclusionist ideology and activists of the same ilk, along with hard-line fundamentalist speakers delivered incendiary and inciteful speeches against the Muslim community.  The event was toxic with provocative hate speeches and call for violence against the Muslims as Narsinghanand openly called for genocide and use of weapons against Muslims. The hateful and derogatory speeches made at in “Dharma Sansad” in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, triggered outrage and condemnation across the country.

On December 23, 2021, following the speech delivered at the Dharam Sansad, an FIR No. 849 of 2021 was registered against Yati Narsinghanand and other speakers under Sections 153A and 295A under the Indian Penal Code at Kotwali Police Station in Haridwar. Dramatically, on February 2, 2022, Yati was granted bail by the local court of Haridwar in the case registered against him.

It is important to highlight that, in another FIR No. 18 of 2022 registered against Yati Narsinghanand at Kotwali Police Station in Haridwar in a case registered against him for his alleged offensive and derogatory remarks on Muslim women, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar rejected his bail application while affirming the contention of the prosecution  that “despite being issued a Section 41A CrPC notice in the past, he (Narsinghanand) is repeatedly making comments to incite communal passions and spoiling religious harmony/atmosphere through social media and there is a strong possibility of serious crimes being committed in the area.”

On December 28, 2021, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) formally approached the National Commission for Minorities, seeking intervention regarding the hateful speeches made during the Dharam Sansad. CJP emphasized the need for urgent action to uphold communal harmony and protect minority rights, highlighting the failure of law enforcement to respond adequately to the incitement of hate. Following the Haridwar Dharam Sansad, the police faced significant criticism for their inaction in addressing the inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech that emerged from the event.

The persistent inaction of the police and the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in addressing the hate speeches of Yati Narsinghanand is deeply troubling. Despite repeated complaints and repeated reminders on hate speech against the minorities, especially against Muslims, regarding derogatory remarks targeting Muslim Community and inflammatory statements made at events like the “Dharam Sansad,” authorities have failed to act decisively. This negligence not only emboldens hate speech but also endangers the livelihoods of the people from marginalised communities. CJP’s calls for unity and resistance against such divisive rhetoric highlighting the urgent need for a collective response from all Indians to uphold justice and communal harmony before it’s too late.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has taken significant steps to counter the harmful influence of Dharm Sansad, CJP’s call to the majority in this country to speak up for their fellow Indians who follow other faiths. “A call to the comfortable majority in India”, stressed that we need to “Wake up, speak up, make a fist and let it rise in revolution to call for a new India where everyone has equal opportunity and nobody has to fall victim to hatred. It is our Duty as Indians, to speak up, before it is too late.”

CJP’s fight in countering Yati Narsinghanand’s Online Hate

Notably, on May 20, 2022, identifying the harmful impact of hate speech, particularly anti-minority and Islamophobic content, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) took decisive action by filing a complaint with YouTube. CJP urged the platform to enforce its community guidelines, citing the inflammatory remarks of serial hate offender Yati Narsinghanand, which threaten communal harmony in India.

CJP cited the hate speech delivered by Yati Narsinghanand that was uploaded on YouTube on February 23, 2022 by channel Pavitr Sanatan, in which on being asked by a reporter if Muslims don’t belong in India, Yati said that, “the country of India is of Hindus only. Who are you in this? Who are you? On what basis are you asking this question? As a journalist or as a Muslim? If you are asking as a Muslim, then I want to tell you that you have taken your share by dividing the country. Took away double the share of the entire population. This India belongs to Hindus, should remain of Hindus and we want to make it a country of Hindus only.” 

Similarly, in another video cited by CJP in its complaint before YouTube, in which serial hate offender Yati Narsinghanand claiming that true secularism is synonymous with Hindus and labelling those who identify as secular as supporters of Islam. He further denounced Islam as a “cancer of the earth,” asserting that it poses a grave threat to society. Such rhetoric perpetuates hate and fuels communal division.

CJP’s relentless advocacy for curbing online hate resulted in a significant victory when YouTube responded on May 31, 2022, by removing six hate-filled videos that violated the platform’s Community Guidelines on Hate Speech. This decisive action by YouTube underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for their words, particularly when they threaten societal harmony. CJP’s efforts highlight the critical role of community vigilance in combating hate speech and promoting a safer, more inclusive online environment for all, reinforcing the message that hate will not be tolerated. In their response dated May 31, 2022 to CJP’s complaint, YouTube apprised Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) that they have taken cognisance of the accounts we had reported, and suspended six videos for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines regarding Hate Speech.

In the complaint, CJP has informed YouTube that this is a violation of Sections 153 A, 153B, 295A, 298, 504 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complaint also highlights the latest set of laws concerning social media intermediaries such as YouTube under the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, which requires the platforms like YouTube to exercise due diligence in terms of any content that is “defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, invasive of another’s privacy, including bodily privacy, insulting or harassing on the basis of gender, libellous, racially or ethnically objectionable, relating or encouraging money laundering or gambling, or otherwise inconsistent with or contrary to the laws of India [Rules 3(1)(b)].”

Yati Narsinghanand’s Rhetoric and Meta’s Hate Speech Policy

As per Meta’s 3 Tier Community Standards on Hate Speech, the definition of hate speech encompasses direct attacks against individuals based on protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. It includes violent or dehumanizing language, harmful stereotypes, and calls for exclusion. The guidelines also prohibit harmful stereotypes linked to historical violence and extend protections to refugees and migrants while allowing commentary on immigration policies. Additionally, slurs used to attack individuals based on these characteristics are banned, though content that critiques or raises awareness about such language may be permitted if the intent is clear. Overall, the policies aim to balance protection against hate speech with the allowance for critical dialogue

But in the case of Yati Narsinghanand’s hate speech, particularly through platforms like Facebook Live, raises critical concerns about the effectiveness of Meta’s three-tier community standards on hate speech. According to these guidelines, hate speech includes direct attacks on individuals based on protected characteristics such as religion, ethnicity, and gender identity, along with dehumanizing language and harmful stereotypes. Similarly, the social media giant X (formerly Twitter) also has a well-defined policy (April, 2023) on curbing hateful references, incitement, slurs and tropes, hateful imagery and hateful profile. X’s hateful conduct policy states that “you may not directly attack other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”

However, Narsinghanand’s inflammatory remarks targeting the Muslim community, especially during events like the Dharam Sansad, have gone viral without sufficient moderation, exposing a glaring failure in enforcement of Meta’s policy.

Yati Narsinghanand’s hate history is a disturbing testament to the dangers of divisive rhetoric. His inflammatory speeches have sparked violence, protests, and widespread outrage, earning him multiple cases and criticism from various groups but no action has been taken against him even now. By targeting Muslims and other communities, he is on the way to undermines India’s diverse religious fabric and promotes harmful stereotypes against Muslims and Islam. Narsinghanand’s actions demonstrate a clear intent to incite violence and create social unrest, posing a significant threat to national harmony under the protection of ‘saffronisation of politics by the ruling party in Centre and UP.

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