Shocking viral video shows Hindutva men threatening the 60-year-old Muslim driver for refusing to chant a Hindu slogan near Taj Mahal
AGRA/NEW DELHI — The elderly Muslim cab driver who was humiliated and was pressured to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan by Hindutva men in the Taj Mahal parking area of Agra recently, has now decided to sell his car and abandon his driving profession.
The victim, 60-year-old Mohammad Raees, says the humiliation has broken his spirit.
The disturbing incident came to light earlier this week after a video of the unfortunate incident went viral on social media. In the clip, two men on a motorcycle could be seen cornering the elderly driver, questioning him, and then threatening him with consequences if he did not chant the religious slogan.
In a new video released later, Raees recounted the horror he faced. He said the men first asked him whether he was making videos in the parking area. When he denied it, one of them ordered him to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Raees refused. According to him, the men then issued a chilling warning that he must chant the slogan within three days or face punishment.
जय श्री राम न बोलने पर धमकाया! मुस्लिम ड्राइवर ने टैक्सी बेचने का बोला! रहीस बोले- "बेटे कह रहे कुछ हुआ तो कैसे संभालेंगे!"
— Muslim Spaces (@MuslimSpaces) November 28, 2025
“आगरा की सड़कों पर 38 साल से टैक्सी चला रहा हूं। पहली बार किसी ने मुझे 'जय श्री राम' बोलने के लिए मजबूर किया। नहीं बोलने पर मेरी दाढ़ी खींची, थप्पड़ मारे।”… pic.twitter.com/F0GeIX444W
Raees added that as he tried to reverse his car, one of the men suddenly got down from the motorcycle and slapped him across the face. Only when nearby people began moving towards him did the attackers flee.
The elderly driver, visibly shaken, said he had never seen the culprits before. He came to know only later that the incident was circulating online. “My daughter called me from Mathura and said my video was going viral. I was shocked,” he said.
Following his family’s insistence, Raees filed a complaint with the police. He said officers “listened to him very carefully” and visited the parking area to review CCTV footage. Yet, the police have not identified the accused. Raees said, “They gave me a copy of the complaint after two days, but the footage does not clearly show their faces.”
Raees expressed deep worry about the impact such intimidation could have on Agra—one of India’s most visited cities. “Agra is a city of peace and calm. People from across India and the world come here to see the Taj Mahal. If such things happen, what message will it give to visitors?” he asked.
But the personal impact on the elderly Muslim driver is even more painful. Speaking with tears in his voice, Raees said, “I thought I would earn with dignity as long as God kept me alive, but my heart has broken. After this, I do not feel like doing anything. I will quit driving forever.”
He added, “I will sell my car and sit at home. A customer has already come to see the car. If it gets sold, I will never drive again.”
Raees maintains that he does not want such an experience to scare anyone else. “What happened to me should not happen to any other person,” he pleaded.
Despite the shockwaves caused by the video, there has been no official confirmation of arrests or identification of the attackers so far. Local Muslim organisations have expressed concern, saying incidents like this target individuals for their faith and restrict their right to work and live with dignity.
Citizens have questioned how a senior Muslim driver in one of the most protected tourist zones in India can be assaulted without swift action. Many feel that such acts are aimed at humiliating Muslims and forcing them to accept political slogans against their will.
While the authorities investigate, Raees sits at home, waiting for someone to buy his car—the only source of his livelihood.
His final words linger: “I drove people around with respect for years. I never troubled anyone. But now I feel unsafe. My dignity was taken away with one slap. How can I continue after that?”
