Saurabh Mukherjee
What began as a moment of individual courage in a small Uttarakhand town has now grown into a national political flashpoint. A gym trainer from Kotdwar, who identified himself as ‘Mohammad Deepak’ while confronting a Hindutva mob, has drawn widespread support from opposition parties across the country after he stood up to protect an elderly Muslim shopkeeper from harassment.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conspicuously absent from those backing him, Deepak has emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance to majoritarian intimidation.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media on Republic Day, shows Deepak intervening when a group of Hindutva activists attempted to bully Wakeel Ahmed, an ailing Muslim shopkeeper who runs ‘Baba School Uniform’ in Kotdwar. Since then, political leaders from across the spectrum—barring the BJP—have spoken out in support of Deepak, who refused to be cowed down by the mob.
Among the prominent voices was Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who described Deepak as a “hero of India” in a post on X.
Rahul Gandhi, elaborating on his support in an X post, wrote: “Deepak of Uttarakhand is India’s hero. Deepak is fighting for the Constitution and humanity—the very Constitution that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar conspire to trample daily. He is a living symbol of the shop of love in the market of hatred, and this is what hurts the powers that be the most. The Sangh Parivar is deliberately spreading economic and social poison in the country so that India remains divided and a few people can continue to rule through fear. The BJP government in Uttarakhand is openly supporting the anti-social forces that are engaged in intimidating and harassing ordinary citizens.”
He added, “No country can progress in an atmosphere of hatred, fear, and anarchy. Development without peace is just a slogan. We need more Deepaks—those who will not bow down, who will not be afraid, and who will stand with full strength for the Constitution. We are with you, brother. Do not be afraid. You are a lion.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas also travelled to Kotdwar to meet both Deepak and Ahmed at the latter’s shop, where Ahmed was allegedly assaulted by Bajrang Dal members on January 26.
The Indian Express reported that Brittas even took membership at Deepak’s gym and spent time interacting with locals during his visit.
The Bajrang Dal, which was at the centre of the controversy, is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Another RSS affiliate, the BJP, currently governs both Uttarakhand and the national capital. At the state level, Congress leaders raised sharp questions about the police response to the incident.
According to Moneycontrol, Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana questioned why police complaints were filed not only against Deepak but also his associate Vijay Rawat, allegedly based on complaints by Bajrang Dal members, while the police failed to identify members of the mob despite their faces being clearly visible in videos.
Speaking to The Hindu, Dhasmana said, “The only way they have to win [the 2027 state election] is to create fear, and tell Hindus that Muslims are a threat. Legislations like the Uniform Civil Code, the minority education bill that aimed to abolish the Madrasa board and the anti-conversion law – all these are only aimed at polarising and dividing.”
Public support for Deepak has also grown steadily. People have gathered outside his gym and residence to express solidarity, particularly after he reportedly faced threats and hostility from Hindutva supporters for standing up for Ahmed. Deepak later urged supporters to visit him only after tensions had eased. Reports have indicated that he too came under attack following the incident.
The trigger for the confrontation was the Bajrang Dal’s demand that Ahmed remove the word ‘Baba’ from his shop’s name, claiming it to be a ‘Hindu name’ associated exclusively with a revered local Hindu figure. Ahmed, who is over 70 years old and suffers from Parkinsons disease, was subjected to intimidation that opposition leaders say the ruling party has failed to condemn.
The episode has deepened political polarisation in the state. While opposition leaders have openly supported Deepak for confronting communal intimidation, the BJP leadership has remained silent on the harassment of Ahmed and the threats faced by Deepak.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, instead of condemning the incident, accused the Congress of “appeasement” politics while addressing a gathering in Champawat district, The Print reported.
Dhami framed the controversy without addressing the law-and-order situation created by Bajrang Dal members, nor did he refer to the communal bullying captured on video.
Instead, he objected to the Congress for supporting a person who had placed ‘Mohammad’ before his Hindu name, without acknowledging that Deepak was attempting to calm and silence an aggressive mob.
Deepak has since clarified his decision to call himself ‘Mohammad Deepak’, stating that religion should never be a reason to harass or intimidate anyone. He has consistently emphasised that “everyone is equal before the law“.
Support has also come from outside Uttarakhand. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda shared a video of a phone conversation with Deepak, praising his courage and humanity. Hooda assured him that the Congress would raise the matter in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and reiterated that the party stood firmly by him.
In a separate gesture, the Jharkhand government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a cash award of Rs 2 lakh for Deepak’s bravery.
Deepak reportedly declined the award, suggesting instead that the money be given to the family of Ankita Bhandari, a young woman allegedly murdered at a resort in Uttarakhand in 2022.
Vijay Rawat, who was present when Deepak confronted the mob and now faces a police case himself, defended their actions by saying that organisations like the Bajrang Dal misuse religion to pit communities against each other. Rawat said that while he is a Hindu, he does not support attacks or intimidation against people of other faiths.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conspicuously absent from those backing him, Deepak has emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance to majoritarian intimidation.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media on Republic Day, shows Deepak intervening when a group of Hindutva activists attempted to bully Wakeel Ahmed, an ailing Muslim shopkeeper who runs ‘Baba School Uniform’ in Kotdwar. Since then, political leaders from across the spectrum—barring the BJP—have spoken out in support of Deepak, who refused to be cowed down by the mob.
Among the prominent voices was Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who described Deepak as a “hero of India” in a post on X.
Rahul Gandhi, elaborating on his support in an X post, wrote: “Deepak of Uttarakhand is India’s hero. Deepak is fighting for the Constitution and humanity—the very Constitution that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar conspire to trample daily. He is a living symbol of the shop of love in the market of hatred, and this is what hurts the powers that be the most. The Sangh Parivar is deliberately spreading economic and social poison in the country so that India remains divided and a few people can continue to rule through fear. The BJP government in Uttarakhand is openly supporting the anti-social forces that are engaged in intimidating and harassing ordinary citizens.”
उत्तराखंड के दीपक भारत के हीरो हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2026
दीपक संविधान और इंसानियत के लिए लड़ रहे हैं - उस संविधान के लिए जिसे BJP और संघ परिवार रोज़ रौंदने की साज़िश कर रहे हैं।
वे नफ़रत के बाज़ार में मोहब्बत की दुकान का जीवित प्रतीक हैं और यही बात सत्ता को सबसे ज़्यादा चुभती है।
संघ परिवार… pic.twitter.com/c1D4VHV5XO
He added, “No country can progress in an atmosphere of hatred, fear, and anarchy. Development without peace is just a slogan. We need more Deepaks—those who will not bow down, who will not be afraid, and who will stand with full strength for the Constitution. We are with you, brother. Do not be afraid. You are a lion.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas also travelled to Kotdwar to meet both Deepak and Ahmed at the latter’s shop, where Ahmed was allegedly assaulted by Bajrang Dal members on January 26.
The Indian Express reported that Brittas even took membership at Deepak’s gym and spent time interacting with locals during his visit.
"Deepak Kumar, now known as 'Muhammad' Deepak... is a beacon of hope in the struggle against the Hindutva communalism .
— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) February 8, 2026
Deepak Kumar entered the scene in Kotdwar, in the foothills of the Himalayas, when Bajrang Dal activists began harassing an elderly man named Muhammad. This… pic.twitter.com/ZVuA5VwgGb
The Bajrang Dal, which was at the centre of the controversy, is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Another RSS affiliate, the BJP, currently governs both Uttarakhand and the national capital. At the state level, Congress leaders raised sharp questions about the police response to the incident.
According to Moneycontrol, Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana questioned why police complaints were filed not only against Deepak but also his associate Vijay Rawat, allegedly based on complaints by Bajrang Dal members, while the police failed to identify members of the mob despite their faces being clearly visible in videos.
Speaking to The Hindu, Dhasmana said, “The only way they have to win [the 2027 state election] is to create fear, and tell Hindus that Muslims are a threat. Legislations like the Uniform Civil Code, the minority education bill that aimed to abolish the Madrasa board and the anti-conversion law – all these are only aimed at polarising and dividing.”
Public support for Deepak has also grown steadily. People have gathered outside his gym and residence to express solidarity, particularly after he reportedly faced threats and hostility from Hindutva supporters for standing up for Ahmed. Deepak later urged supporters to visit him only after tensions had eased. Reports have indicated that he too came under attack following the incident.
The trigger for the confrontation was the Bajrang Dal’s demand that Ahmed remove the word ‘Baba’ from his shop’s name, claiming it to be a ‘Hindu name’ associated exclusively with a revered local Hindu figure. Ahmed, who is over 70 years old and suffers from Parkinsons disease, was subjected to intimidation that opposition leaders say the ruling party has failed to condemn.
The episode has deepened political polarisation in the state. While opposition leaders have openly supported Deepak for confronting communal intimidation, the BJP leadership has remained silent on the harassment of Ahmed and the threats faced by Deepak.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, instead of condemning the incident, accused the Congress of “appeasement” politics while addressing a gathering in Champawat district, The Print reported.
Dhami framed the controversy without addressing the law-and-order situation created by Bajrang Dal members, nor did he refer to the communal bullying captured on video.
Instead, he objected to the Congress for supporting a person who had placed ‘Mohammad’ before his Hindu name, without acknowledging that Deepak was attempting to calm and silence an aggressive mob.
Deepak has since clarified his decision to call himself ‘Mohammad Deepak’, stating that religion should never be a reason to harass or intimidate anyone. He has consistently emphasised that “everyone is equal before the law“.
Support has also come from outside Uttarakhand. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda shared a video of a phone conversation with Deepak, praising his courage and humanity. Hooda assured him that the Congress would raise the matter in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and reiterated that the party stood firmly by him.
In a separate gesture, the Jharkhand government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a cash award of Rs 2 lakh for Deepak’s bravery.
Deepak reportedly declined the award, suggesting instead that the money be given to the family of Ankita Bhandari, a young woman allegedly murdered at a resort in Uttarakhand in 2022.
Vijay Rawat, who was present when Deepak confronted the mob and now faces a police case himself, defended their actions by saying that organisations like the Bajrang Dal misuse religion to pit communities against each other. Rawat said that while he is a Hindu, he does not support attacks or intimidation against people of other faiths.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment