Hyderabad: A Muslim street vendor from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, faced public harassment from YouTubers at Telangana’s Medaram Jatara, who forced him to eat his own khova buns to disprove “food jihad” allegations.
Members of the Tejaswi News YouTube channel confronted Shaik Shaiksha Vali, grilling him over his food’s lack of manufacturing or expiry dates on the bread. “I have already dialled 100. There is no manufacturing date or expiration date on this (bread). The authorities should answer for this,” channel journalist Balaji said in the video. Vali clarified he only sells the items supplied by his boss, unaware of their production details.
Suspicion grew when they questioned his Rs 10 pricing, far below other shops’ Rs 100 rates, and demanded his Aadhaar card, which he didn’t have on him. They then insisted he eat the bun to prove it safe for children and adults.
The video sparked online outrage, drawing solidarity from Vali’s locality, influencers, and political figures who condemned the “views and likes” stunt. Locals devoured his buns on camera, with one woman saying, “I’ve been eating it regularly, and I have not faced anything.” Another added, “We have been having the same sweet for years, we don’t feel it is unsafe.” A resident emphasized, “There is no Hindu-Muslim between us. We have been living peacefully for years.”
Telugu Desam Party’s Paritala Sreeram decried the cruelty: “Hunger has no caste, self-respect has no religion. Everyone has a responsibility to respect everyone who works hard and supports their family. Some people are doing such things for views and likes on YouTube. If possible, we should stand by the poor, but it is not right to suppress their voices like this.”
Influencer Shan Renjarla Rajesh posted on Instagram on February 10, mocking the harassers: “Chi Chi, are you angry with the one who sells 10 10-rupee bun?” Local personality Dasaram Ashish Kumar shared the clip, assuring, “Don’t worry, brother, we are with you.”