NEW DELHI — A public speech by Hindu Monk, Yati Narsinghanand Giri at a Hindu conference in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim leaders and civil rights groups, who say the remarks amount to hate speech and public calls for violence.
The event was held on Friday at the Bombay Resort on Balka Road to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Yati Narsinghanand, a senior figure of the Juna Akhara, was the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, he claimed that population trends could lead to a Muslim prime minister in India and said, “The day a Muslim becomes prime minister, two temples will be the first to be broken. One will be the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the other the Dasna Devi temple in Ghaziabad.”
He allegedly warned, without evidence, that in Bangladesh, “30 lakh Hindus were killed there in a short period,” and criticised the Indian Prime Minister for not speaking on the issue. He urged Hindus to organise themselves, saying “If Hindus want to stay alive, they must form their own gangs. Families must have more sons and weapons. Only then will a family be strong.”
He also spoke about his own safety, warning, “Today the government is yours. Tomorrow, when the government and the prime minister are theirs, orders will come from the top to shoot this baba. I may be killed before that, but you will not be able to save yourselves.”
Other parts of the speech included claims about the state machinery, with Yati Narsinghanand stating that RSS cadres stood above administrative officers. He also referenced Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as the ideological base of the RSS.
The conference featured other speakers including Vedpal, Vibhav Gaur, Dharamanand Giri and Abhayanand Giri, and was chaired by Acharya Kuldeep Shastri.
Muslim leaders and community members reacted with anger and concern. A local cleric said, “This is not free speech. This is a public call to harm others. Such words make ordinary Muslims feel unsafe in their own country.”
A civil liberties lawyer added, “The speech names communities, predicts violence, and asks people to take up arms. This fits the legal meaning of hate speech. Police must register cases and act without delay.”
Residents also questioned the claims about Bangladesh, with a researcher noting, “Loose figures and emotional claims are used to spread fear. Such statements need fact checks, not applause.”
Police in Bulandshahr confirmed the speech had come to their attention and said they were “looking into the matter,” but no formal case had been registered at the time of filing this report.
The incident highlights ongoing debates over public speech targeting communities, the limits of political expression, and the duty of authorities to protect all citizens under Indian law, particularly minorities.
