Islamophobic Remarks :
Prior to this, Raj Kumar—also going by Bittu Bajrangi—was a fruit and vegetable vendor out of Dabua Mandi, Faridabad, Haryana. He is currently a well-known cow vigilante and leader of Hindu extremism. Even though Bajrangi says he has spent the last 20 years fighting “love jihad” and protecting cows, he recently became well-known across the country after his hate speech went viral and set off a wave of anti-Muslim violence that left at least six people dead, caused significant property damage, and forced several Muslim families to flee different parts of southern Haryana.
After Bajrangi was arrested in relation to the violence in Haryana, the parent organization of the Bajrang Dal, the Hindu militant group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), formally repudiated him. Right-wing Hindu organizations have not yet denied the claim that Bajrangi was seen wearing the uniform of the Hindu paramilitary outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a photo that appeared around the time of his detention.
In Faridabad, Haryana, Bajrangi opened a cow sanctuary and formed the Goraksha Bajrang Force, a vigilante squad for cows, in 2016–17. He proudly recognized his group’s work in an interview to defend cows from what he called “predators,” a reference to Muslims. Furthermore, he asserted that he had connected some Muslim males to “love jihad” incidents, which kept them behind bars.
Bajrangi, who goes by the moniker “Jihadiyon ka jija” (brother-in-law of Jihadis), has a history of inciting hatred towards Muslims by taking part in protests, posting offensive material on social media, and calling for boycotts of Muslims. At least five cases involving him have been filed in various jurisdictions. These proceedings include accusations of promoting religious hatred and upsetting social harmony.
Bajrangi is also intimately linked to Monu Manesar, a well-known cow vigilante who is charged with planning the horrific killing and burning of two Muslim men in Haryana due to suspected cow smuggling. Bajrangi was seen accompanying a mob in July 2023 in Haryana at the VHP’s “Shobha Yatra,” an event supported by Manesar that would soon spark anti-Muslim riots throughout the state. The mob was armed with deadly weapons and was threatening Muslims with violent shouts and calls for bloodshed.
Bajrangi posted a video a day before the violence in Haryana broke out, in which he dared Muslims to obstruct the rally’s path with the words, “Don’t complain that your brother-in-law came and went without meeting you.” Our fully outfitted fleet of one hundred and fifty vehicles is arriving. We are arriving, so prepare the garlands for our arrival.
While carrying firearms and shouting provocative slogans, Bajrangi and his party made an attempt to be stopped by the local police en route to Nuh, Haryana. But in response, Bajrangi and his armed allies attacked the police, took back the guns that had been taken away, and left the area.
After a risky chase, local law forces captured Bajrangi on August 15, 2023, at his home in Faridabad, Haryana. Police claim that Bajrangi started the violence in Nuh. He has since been charged under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act for a number of offenses, including rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servants, assault, robbery, and criminal intimidation. A local court granted him bail within fifteen days of his detention, despite the seriousness of the charges.
Bajrangi enjoys apparent support from politicians, as evidenced by numerous pictures on an Instagram account linked to his name, featuring photos of his interactions with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, as well as other BJP leaders such as Pragya Singh Thakur and Kapil Mishra. His social media accounts are replete with anti-Muslim rhetoric, images flaunting weapons, and depictions of hate rallies targeting the Muslim community.