Hindutva leader Indresh Kaushik of Ayodhya said: “If they (Muslims) don’t stop, we will remove the white caps from their heads and rip the beards from their faces”
NEW DELHI/MATHURA – The peaceful celebrations of Eid-Al-Azha across the country were overshadowed by a disturbing incident in Mathura’s Barsana area, where tension escalated after alleged cow remains were found near an Idgah. While police have registered a case and taken swift action, a deeply inflammatory statement by Hindutva leader Indresh Kaushik has caused panic and fear among Muslims, who say they are being deliberately targeted and threatened.
On the first day of the three-day Bakrid festivities on Saturday, several Hindu groups stormed the Govardhan-Barsana Road in Mathura, claiming cows had been slaughtered illegally. The groups, the self-appointed cow vigilantes, alleged that the remains of cows were found near a Muslim prayer ground.
Though the police acted quickly to disperse crowds and register a case against over 70 individuals, the situation took a serious turn when Hindutva leader Indresh Kaushik of Ayodhya made an open call for violence against Muslims during a media interaction.
In a speech laced with hate and warning, Kaushik said, “Our cows have been slaughtered on the roads in Mathura. The remains of the cows were thrown out, and their blood was found everywhere. This is very sad and painful. Now the time has come for their end.”
He further added, “If they (Muslims) don’t stop, we will remove the white caps from their heads and rip the beards from their faces. We are ready for a war.”
The statement by Kaushik, who has no constitutional authority but calls himself a Hindu spiritual leader, has sent shockwaves among Muslims in Mathura and across India.
“We are law-abiding citizens. Why are we being threatened like this?” asked Mohammad Faheem, a resident of Mathura. “We celebrated Bakrid peacefully. The police should investigate, but threatening our identity, our faith, is not acceptable. This is hate speech.”
Local Muslim leaders have urged the Uttar Pradesh government to take strict action against Kaushik for inciting violence.
“The Constitution of India gives all citizens the right to practise their religion freely. Threatening to remove a community’s religious identity is not only shameful but criminal,” said Maulana Zubair Alam, a senior cleric from Mathura. “Will the law now bend before the mob?”
The incident has sparked nationwide debate over the increasing normalisation of hate speech in India and the selective silence of authorities when such statements are made against Muslims.
A police spokesperson from Mathura confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against more than 70 people in connection with the communal unrest, and that evidence is being examined.
“We are investigating the complaint related to alleged cow remains found near the Idgah. No one will be spared if found guilty, but we urge people not to take the law into their own hands,” said Inspector Rajesh Kumar of Govardhan police station.
However, there was no official comment on Kaushik’s threatening remarks at the time of filing this report. Many activists and civil rights organisations have questioned this silence.
“What gives Kaushik or any other person the right to decide how a citizen should dress or keep their beard?” asked human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi. “This is not just an attack on Muslims, it is an attack on the very spirit of India’s democracy.”
Senior journalist Saeed Naqvi said, “There is a dangerous pattern where Muslims are routinely vilified and then blamed for everything. From what they eat to how they pray, even now, their festival is being targeted without proof. This is not nationalism, this is organised hate.”
Others drew attention to the fact that such threats come at a time when the minority community is already under pressure.
“Even our festivals are not safe anymore,” said Firoz Ahmad, a college student in Aligarh. “First it was the loudspeakers at mosques, then prayers in open grounds, now they’re after our caps and beards. Where does this end?”
Despite the uproar, leaders from the ruling BJP have not condemned Kaushik’s remarks publicly. The lack of a firm response from the government has further raised concerns about the state’s neutrality.
Opposition leader and AIMIM lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the threat in strong words. “This man is openly calling for violence against Muslims. If the law is not applied to him, then we must ask — is the law only for minorities?” he said during a press conference in Hyderabad.
“What kind of message is being sent to the Muslim youth? That they are second-class citizens in their own country?” Owaisi added.
Several Muslim families in Barsana have reportedly decided to send their children away temporarily until the situation calms down. Fear is high among elders and shopkeepers, many of whom did not open their businesses after the incident.
“We just want to live in peace,” said Rehmat Ali, a butcher in the area. “I don’t want my children to grow up scared. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
The atmosphere remains tense, though police patrolling has increased.
Social media has erupted with calls for Kaushik’s arrest under the hate speech and incitement laws. Legal experts say his remarks qualify as a criminal offence under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), and Section 505 (statements creating public mischief).
“These are not just empty words. They carry the power to inflame mobs and cause real harm. That is why the law treats hate speech seriously,” said Supreme Court advocate Mehmood Pracha.
“We will be filing a complaint against Indresh Kaushik with the National Commission for Minorities and also seek police protection for local Muslims,” he added.
This is not the first time a leader from the majority community has made threatening remarks against Muslims. In recent years, there has been a rise in communal speeches, calls for economic boycotts, and even mob lynchings, especially around cow-related rumours.
“When will India say enough is enough?” asked Nida Khan, a social worker in Lucknow. “Our country is built on unity in diversity. These people are tearing that apart in the name of religion.”
The threats made by Indresh Kaushik are not just a local issue but reflect the growing atmosphere of fear and hate being normalised across India. The silence of the authorities, the biased arrests, and the open calls for violence against a religious minority pose a serious threat to the idea of India as a secular nation.
Muslims across the country are asking one question: “Will we be protected, or punished for our identity?”
Until strong action is taken against hate speech, regardless of who makes it, India risks losing the trust of its largest minority and damaging its social fabric beyond repair.
