The worker is referred to as ‘Ali Khamenei's nephew’ before being instructed by the Bajrang Dal member to vacate the premises
AHMEDABAD — A Bajrang Dal member harassed and intimidated a Muslim migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, asking him to vacate his rented accommodation in the Naroda area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
The incident came to light through a video that was widely shared online on Tuesday.
The footage shows a Bajrang Dal member, later identified as Ganesh Vanzara, and several associates confronting the migrant worker in the city’s predominantly Hindu neighbourhood. During the interaction, the man is told to leave the locality and shift to an area where Muslims reside.
According to posts accompanying the video, the migrant worker is referred to as “Ali Khamenei’s nephew” before being instructed to vacate the premises.
The video has drawn attention because the confrontation appears to take place in public. Social media users alleged that those accompanying the accused appeared confident that no action would be taken against them.
The people online said that the incident reflected a growing normalisation of religious discrimination in housing and public spaces, while others questioned how citizens could be pressured to leave their homes because of their religious identity.
One user, sharing the video, wrote, “Why, under BJP governance, are citizens being threatened and driven from their homes because of their identity?”
The incident has also triggered wider discussions about the challenges faced by Muslim migrant workers seeking housing and employment in different parts of the country.
Another user, Arfa Khanum, linked the incident to broader concerns about the safety of Muslims in India.
“Here’s a Bajrang Dal activist in Naroda, Ahmedabad, intimidating a Muslim migrant from UP and forcing him to vacate his rented home in a Hindu area — cheered on by locals. The video was uploaded by the perpetrator himself. Normalisation of hate in broad daylight,” she wrote.
The post further alleged that the accused had shared the video on social media himself, suggesting a belief that he would face no consequences for his actions.
Another user, while calling out the BJP’s divisive and polarising politics, said: “This incident is a consequence of the BJP’s politics of division and hatred towards minorities. When those who target minorities feel protected and emboldened, such acts become normalised, undermining both the rule of law and the constitutional promise of equal citizenship for every Indian.”
The episode has stirred a debate around housing discrimination, religious profiling and the constitutional guarantee of equal citizenship.
Rights advocates have long argued that informal barriers to housing continue to pose challenges for many Muslims, particularly migrant workers seeking employment in urban areas.
At the time of reporting, it was not clear whether a police complaint had been filed in connection with the incident or whether any official inquiry had been initiated. Authorities had not publicly commented on the viral video.
