‘Hindu Rashtra!’: Hindutva men chase off vendors selling Santa caps

Bhubaneswar: In another incident of right-wing Hindutva extremism and religious intolerance in India, a group of men harassed and bullied two roadside vendors who were selling Santa hats as Christmas is approaching. The men claimed that this is Hindu Rashtra, and selling wares related to the Christian faith is no longer allowed. Video of the incident is circulating on social media, gathering outrage. The men forced the vendors, who include women, to leave with their wares.

At the start of the video, a car could be seen slowing and parking beside the vendors, and a man in yellow attire getting out of the car. He could hear saying repeatedly whether the vendors have permission to sell the wares there. He could be heard talking in a threatening voice and asking the vendors about their faith. When the vendors say they were Hindus, the man asks them how they sell Santa caps if they are Hindus. He says that only Lord Jagannath can rule, and the vendors must sell merchandise related to Lord Jagannath.

"Here, only Lord Jagannath can rule. Being Hindus, how can you do this? Wrap up quickly and go away from here. If you have to sell anything, sell Lord Jagannath's merchandise," Money Control quotes the man.

He said that he has no problem with them selling wares in Odisha, but their wares must not be Christian artifacts.

The video has given rise to strong responses of criticism on social media.

If he is that sure of his position, he should go to shopping malls and retail stores, and try to stop them from selling X'Mas paraphernalia," said a user. "Harassing innocent people trying to make a living - what a rotten lot you have wrought, the sick sanghi/BJP ecosystem."

"Shocking to see this happening in Odisha. Of course, now with the BJP in power, the playbook will be similar," commented another, while a third user pointed out, "India is a secular country, not a mob-ruled theocracy. Harassing a poor man for selling Santa caps is unconstitutional, immoral, and un-Indian. This is BJP’s idea of 'New India'."