Siddharthnagar: A video circulating from Nagar Panchayat Bharatbhari in eastern Uttar Pradesh has triggered alarm after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lavkush Ojha was recorded threatening Muslims with violent language. Ojha, who serves as Bhanwapur block chief under Dumariaganj tehsil, warned that Muslims accused of cow slaughter would be “slaughtered like carrots and radishes.”
The remarks, made at a local fruit-eating programme, drew visible discomfort from some attendees and were quickly shared on social media. Community members and rights activists have condemned the language as a direct call to violence.
Muslim residents say the speech has created fear for their safety. Local shopkeepers and butchers reported that they now worry about carrying out their daily work. “When a leader says this from a stage, it makes us afraid to go about our work,” said one resident. Community leaders, including clerics, demanded immediate police action and protection.
Uttar Pradesh enforces strict anti-slaughter laws under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. Rights groups note that these laws, along with frequent arrests and crackdowns, have often fuelled communal tensions. Past incidents across the state show that accusations of cattle-related offences have led to mob attacks against Muslims.
Legal experts said the video, if authenticated, could amount to criminal intimidation and incitement under the Indian Penal Code. Activists are urging the police to register a First Information Report (FIR), begin a transparent inquiry, and provide security to families who feel at risk.
Local leaders have appealed for calm, but many residents remain unsettled. They say the public circulation of the video at least ensures national attention on their safety concerns.
