Viral video shows the Hindutva group urging Hindus to avoid Muslim traders amid Sanjauli Masjid dispute causing fear among minorities in the hill city
SHIMLA — A public call for the economic boycott of Muslims has stirred fresh concern in Himachal Pradesh after a video from Shimla’s Sanjauli area showed a Hindu group urging people not to buy goods or services from Muslims.
The appeal was made during a meeting held on 13 December by Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti along with other Hindu organisations, at a time when tension over the Sanjauli mosque issue remains high. In the meeting, a Bajrang Dal leader openly asked members of the Hindu community to deal only with fellow Hindus for food, clothes, tailoring, and daily needs.
In the video, which has spread widely on social media, the leader is heard saying, “Buy costly items from a Hindu if needed, but do not buy anything from a Muslim.” He claimed that such a boycott would prevent incidents like “spitting or urinating in food,” a charge for which no proof was given.
Muslim residents said the statement was hurtful and dangerous. A local shopkeeper said, “We earn our living with honesty. Painting all Muslims as dirty or dishonest is cruel and unfair.”
The speech also included harsh words against Kashmiri traders. The speaker accused them of spying on neighbourhoods and claimed they steal calves for food. No evidence was offered to support these claims. He referred to non-Hindus as “demons of our time,” drawing strong criticism from civil society voices.
A Muslim elder from Sanjauli said, “Such words spread hate and fear. We have lived here for years in peace. Suddenly we are told people should not buy from us.”
The controversy comes against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute over the Sanjauli mosque. Hindu groups have been protesting, claiming the mosque is illegal. The matter is under court hearing. The Muslim side maintains that the mosque stands on waqf land and is fully legal.
Community members fear that calls for economic boycott will deepen social division. A young resident said, “When leaders speak like this from a public stage, it gives a message that Muslims can be pushed out of work and daily life.”
Rights activists say such appeals go against the spirit of the Constitution. One activist said, “Economic boycott based on religion is a form of punishment. It targets ordinary families who depend on small trade to survive.”
As the video continues to circulate, many are urging the authorities to act and ensure that hate-filled appeals do not turn into real harm for minority communities.
