A Muslim man was allegedly verbally assaulted in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath over his religious identity amid the Kedarnath non-Hindu ban row. The man, identified as a resident of Jammu, operated a mule on the Kedarnath pilgrimage route during the Char Dham Yatra.
Video Shows Threats, Abuse on Pilgrimage Route
A video circulating online shows three individuals surrounding the man on a mountain path leading to the temple. They threaten him, use abusive language, and question his presence.
“Musalmaano ko ban kar rakha hai (Muslims are banned here),” a man filming the incident is heard saying. “Saale tum yahapar kamate ho aur hum pe hi bomb phod te ho (You bastards, you earn your living here, yet you drop bombs on us).”
As the video continues, another man targets his religious identity and says, “I don’t know what the government is doing.” A third person adds, “Char Dham pe banned ho tumlog (You all are banned during the Char Dham).”
BKTC Proposal on Entry Restrictions
Earlier in March, the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee approved a proposal to restrict the entry of “non-Sanatanis” at Kedarnath, along with Badrinath and 45 other temples under its jurisdiction.
BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said the decision aims to “preserve the spiritual sanctity and religious traditions” of the shrines and ensure smooth management of crowds during the Yatra.
Similar Incidents Reported Across States
Similar videos have surfaced from multiple states, showing Muslim vendors facing identity checks and restrictions. In Ahmedabad, a Muslim vendor was allegedly forced to leave a Hindu-majority locality by men said to be linked to Bajrang Dal. The incident reportedly took place on April 8 and came to light on April 12 after a video circulated online.
Vendor Asked to Leave Locality in Ahmedabad
The video shows men wearing saffron scarves approaching the vendor and asking him to show his Aadhaar card. After learning his name was Shahjan, one of the men asks, “Kya kar rahe ho, bhai? Aapka naam kya hai?” (What are you doing here? What is your name?)
When the vendor identifies himself, they question him about working in a “Hindu locality.” The video appears to show the men asking him to leave the area, warning that only Hindus should operate there. The group also approaches other vendors and asks them not to sell in the locality.
Ludhiana, Bhilwara Cases Raise Concerns
A similar incident was reported from Ludhiana. A video widely shared online shows a man confronting a Muslim band player, identified as Irfan, and asking him to produce identification documents.
According to reports, Irfan had travelled from Lucknow and was playing musical instruments in the locality. In the video, the man asks him to show his Aadhaar card and state where he was from.
After learning about his background, the man asks whether Irfan had obtained “police verification” to continue working. He also warns the vendor against returning, stating that the matter could otherwise be taken to the police station.
In another incident in Bhilwara district, a vendor named Salim, who had travelled from Fatehpur Sikri, was allegedly stopped while attempting to work in Baishpada village.
Salim and his associate were reportedly prevented from working and asked to show identity cards. The video appears to show a man telling them they would need a written permit from the police station to operate in the village.
“Only if you have an identity card can you work in our village,” the man says in the video.
