Video of Ravi Negi intimidating Muslim shopkeepers to display their real names or face shop closures goes viral; social media erupts in anger
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A video showing BJP leader Ravi Negi issuing threats to Muslim shopkeepers in Delhi has created a storm on social media, stirring deep outrage and condemnation. In the video, Negi, identified as Ravindra Singh Negi alias Ravi Negi, can be seen demanding that Muslim shopkeepers display their “real Muslim names” on their shops, warning them of severe consequences, including closure and sealing of their businesses, if they fail to comply.
This alarming incident unfolds amidst ongoing political debates around names and religious identities in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The controversy has now reached the capital, with Negi, a BJP councillor from Ward number 198, stoking communal tensions with inflammatory remarks. The video shows him confronting shopkeeper Altamas, who runs a dairy under the name “Tomar.” Negi, with clear communal overtones, orders him to include his Muslim name on the shop’s signage.
“If you are a Muslim, why have you written Tomar?” Negi is heard saying in the video. “Your name is Altamas, a Muslim name. You need to get it written tomorrow so people know your identity. If you are working in a Hindu colony, at least write a Muslim name. If you don’t, the shop will be closed and sealed.” The brazen tone and threatening language used by Negi have left many questioning the growing atmosphere of intolerance and communal intimidation in the city.
Negi does not stop there. He proceeds to target another shopkeeper, Mohammad Ayan, who runs “Raval Dairy.” Negi harshly questions the choice of name for the shop, stating, “Why have you opened a shop with the name ‘Raval,’ brother? Change the name. Write ‘Mohammad Ayan Khan.’ Why are you deceiving people in a Hindu-populated area? Do we have any issues with you? But you’ve written ‘Raval,’ and your name is Mohammad Ayan.” Similar demands are made to change the name of a shop called “New Haryana Bhandar.”
Negi’s remarks, accompanied by thinly veiled threats of business closures, reflect a dangerous trend of communal vigilantism, where individuals in positions of power use their influence to intimidate minorities. The videos have prompted widespread criticism from various quarters, with many accusing Negi of promoting a divisive and harmful agenda aimed at alienating Muslim citizens in Hindu-majority areas.
Ravi Negi’s actions represent more than just the personal opinions of a local politician — they symbolise a broader issue of the rising normalisation of communal intimidation in India. His threats are not only discriminatory but deeply rooted in an attempt to control how Muslims live and operate in a city that is supposed to uphold pluralism and diversity. The idea of forcing individuals to display their religious identity as a prerequisite for conducting business is not only unconstitutional but goes against the very principles of equality and secularism enshrined in India’s constitution.
Many have condemned this rhetoric as an extension of the kind of mob mentality that seeks to create division, fear, and mistrust between communities. Anjali Verma, a Delhi-based social activist, slammed Negi’s remarks, stating, “This is a blatant attempt to marginalise Muslims economically and socially. In a democracy, no one should be coerced into flaunting their religious identity. This is nothing but communal bullying aimed at stirring discord.”
Veteran journalist Rajesh Sharma added, “Such actions are deeply troubling. What Ravi Negi is doing is a form of goondaism, using threats to enforce a discriminatory agenda. This needs to be called out at all levels of society because the consequences of such communal tensions can be far-reaching and damaging.”
Ravi Negi is a well-known political figure in Delhi. In 2020, he contested the Delhi assembly elections on a BJP ticket but was defeated by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Negi lost the election by a narrow margin of 3,514 votes. In recent months, Negi has made headlines for various publicity stunts, including carrying a boat through Delhi’s waterlogged streets after heavy rains in June, which also went viral.
Despite his previous actions gaining media attention, Negi’s latest foray into communal politics has garnered severe backlash. His attempts to assert religious identity as a tool for political mobilisation reflect a worrying trend in certain sections of Indian politics.
This incident is part of a disturbing larger pattern of communal polarisation that has been observed in various parts of India. By demanding that Muslims openly declare their religious identity on business signboards, leaders like Negi aim to build a sense of “otherness,” where Muslims are portrayed as outsiders in Hindu-majority areas. This tactic not only sows fear among the minority community but also works to create divisions within society based on religious lines.
These acts of communal vigilantism are increasingly being called out by rights activists, legal experts, and common citizens who see this as a direct assault on the secular fabric of the country. “We cannot have a situation where someone’s ability to do business is tied to their religion. This is unconstitutional and illegal,” remarked legal expert Ayesha Ali. “If authorities do not intervene, we are headed down a dangerous path where vigilante justice replaces the rule of law.”
In a country as diverse as India, forcing individuals to display their religious identity publicly can lead to severe consequences, including increased communal tensions, economic discrimination, and social isolation.
While the controversy surrounding Ravi Negi’s video continues to grow, it has ignited a crucial conversation about the limits of political power, the role of elected representatives, and the rights of individuals to live without fear of intimidation based on their religion.
Negi’s threats highlight a dangerous trend of communal polarisation in Indian politics. As criticism mounts and videos continue to circulate, it remains to be seen how the political establishment will respond to this growing crisis of communal intimidation.
