In a video that is gaining traction on Reddit, MLA Ravindra Singh Negi of BJP can be strolling a busy street in New Delhi and advising hawkers to display their name in the front of their stall so that people can identify whether they are Hindu or Muslim.
Are you Hindu or Muslim? : Ravindra Singh Negi intimidate Hawkers to display their names
The video is viralling at a time when BJP secured a sweeping victory on 8th Feb 2025 in the capital after 28 years. In the video, the new MLA can be seen giving warning to hawkers that their stall will be taken away if they will not display their name at the front.
MLA to Muslim Hawker :“Write your name here (in the front)”. If you don’t write your name then your stall will be taken away.
The video, allegedly to be recorded in December 2024, recently drew sharp criticism for the divisive undertones and the alleged targets of the Muslim vendors.
Ravindra Singh Negi’s Controversial Encounter with the Muslim Vendor
In the video circulated, Negi is seen approaching the street vendor named Guddu. He insists on knowing his full name and religion. As Guddu revealed he’s Muslim, Negi demanded that his cart should display his name prominently. He even threatened the cart’s confiscation if the vendor refused. Negi further, without any evidence, alleged that the other community members contaminated the food items, including milk and paneer. He further instructed the nearby Hindu shopkeepers to display the saffron flags, showing their religious identity.
Reddit users have shown strong reactions to the viral video. While one commented, “People deserve who they vote for,” another drew the parallels to the historical discrimination. He stated, “This will be in history books someday.”
Many Redditors even criticized Negi’s move and called it out as a tool for economic and social exclusion. They warned that such actions can deepen the caste-based and religious divides.
Ravindra Singh Negi’s Pattern of Targeting the Minority Vendors
The incident depicted in the video isn’t isolated. Negi has previously been involved in multiple cases of similar encounters. He, in those instances, too, targeted the Muslim shopkeepers.
Back in 2024 September, Altamash Tomar, a shop owner from Chander Vihar, was pressured to change the name of his shop and reflect his Muslim identity. In Patparganj, a paneer shop owner was ordered to replace the banner with an explicitly identifying himself to be Muslim.
Negi’s actions extend beyond the name boards. During the Hindu festivals, including Navratri and Chhath Puja, he even forced the Muslim-run meat shops to remain closed. For this reason, he cited religious sensitivities. In one instance, Negi warned the vendor, saying, “If you obey me, you will be able to work peacefully.”
With the video continuing to circulate, it is raising some critical questions about his action’s impact on India’s social fabric and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable Indian citizens.