Islamophobic Remarks :
Ambuj Nigam, who is based in Lucknow, is the leader of the militant Hindu group Vishva Hindu Dal (VHD). He is infamous in the area for engaging in vigilantism and using violence in the name of “Love Jihad” and “cow protection.” His group collaborates closely with the government of Uttar Pradesh and other far-right Hindu groups to propagate prejudice and misinformation against Muslims.
His anti-Muslim hatred is evident from the fact that in 2018, when a Hindu priestess from Lucknow named Mahant Devyagiri hosted an Iftaar party at Shri Mankameshwar Ghat in Lucknow for Muslims who were fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, Nigam rushed to the location to cleanse and purify it using the Hindu ritual known as Shudhi-Karan. According to him, the presence of Muslims had rendered the area impure, necessitating purification in order to restore its purity.
Violence is committed and social unrest is sown by VHD members who prowl around raucously throughout Lucknow and the surrounding areas. Four of its members were detained in 2019 for assaulting two Muslims from Kashmir in Lucknow. Adul Salam and Afzal, two street vendors, were attacked by VHD guys who screamed insults and beat them ruthlessly with the wooden wands. After the authorities noticed the incident’s footage, all four of the suspects were taken into custody.
When asked about the event, Nigam responded, “Yes, my workers hit them. The people is incensed following the attack on our army personnel carried out with the assistance of Kashmiri jihadis. The Kashmiris hoist the Pakistani flag while throwing rocks at our troops. Why do we have to put up with that?
Since Nigam thought they appeared “suspicious,” his followers demanded them for identification cards. He claimed that although his men had phoned the police, they had arrived far too slowly.
“We sometimes have to take matters into our own hands when the police are late,” he continued.
Nigam brazenly spreads anti-Muslim misinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as the notion of Hindu nationalism. On social media posts and feeds, his support for converting India’s secular politics into a Hindu Rashtra (country) is blatantly apparent.
The images on his Facebook page attest to his strong political connections, which have given him and his elk enough impunity to control the local state apparatus. He is pictured with the deputy chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and other well-known BJP figures.