At a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, a minor narrator urges economic boycott of Muslims and demands their exclusion from villages
AGRA – In yet another incident reflecting the rising tide of Islamophobia in the country, a minor girl was allowed to deliver a hate-filled speech against Muslims during a Bhagwat Katha in Kheda village of Agra district in Uttar Pradesh.
The young narrator, identified as “Bal Vidushi Lakshmi,” called on Hindus to completely boycott Muslims, alleging that Muslims adulterate food with spit and urine to “corrupt” Hindu faith. She further demanded that every village display signboards declaring Muslims unwelcome.
Her speech went beyond economic boycott, painting Muslims as “terrorists” and urging Hindus to remain “alert” against them. She also mocked Muslims for carrying posters with the words “I Love Muhammad” and accused them of “earning money by using the names of Hindu deities to run eateries.”
The event was organised by the Yogi Youth Brigade Dharma Raksha Trust under its state president, Kunwar Ajay Tomar. Reports confirm that a larger “Sant Sammelan” is planned for Sunday (5 October), which will gather saints and religious leaders from across India.
Many Muslims in Agra and across Uttar Pradesh have reacted with alarm, demanding legal action against those who allowed a minor to spew such venom.
“This is not the voice of a child; this is the poison injected into her mind by adults. It shows how hatred is being carefully manufactured against Muslims,” said Mohammad Salim, a social activist from Agra.
Outrage poured onto the streets as thousands of Muslims carried banners reading “I Love Muhammad” in peaceful processions, demanding that police register a case against the organisers.
“Enough is enough. How long will we Muslims be vilified in the name of religion? We want the administration to take strict action against those poisoning society,” said Shahnaz Begum, a local resident who joined the protest.
Community leaders have warned that such speeches not only threaten social harmony but also embolden extremist groups. “If this hatred is not checked, it will destroy the very fabric of our nation. Muslims are an integral part of India, and we cannot be treated as outsiders,” said advocate Arif Khan.
Incidents of hate speeches targeting Muslims have sharply risen across Uttar Pradesh in recent years. Religious gatherings and rallies often become platforms for leaders to vilify Muslims, calling for their boycott or exclusion.
“This systematic attempt to isolate Muslims socially and economically is nothing but a modern form of apartheid. It is unconstitutional and dangerous,” said Dr Farha Naqvi, a Delhi-based academic who studies communalism in India.
Muslim organisations have appealed to the Uttar Pradesh administration and the central government to intervene. They argue that failure to act against hate speech will normalise the targeting of minorities.
“The Constitution gives us equal rights. If children are being used to sow hatred, then our future as a country is at stake. The government must step in now,” said Maulana Asad Qasmi, an imam from Lucknow.
For many Indian Muslims, this incident is yet another reminder of the growing hostility they face in everyday life – from economic boycotts to threats of exclusion from villages. The demands for an FIR and accountability are not just about one speech but about the larger fight for dignity and equal citizenship.
