Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh): A video storm has erupted on social media, in which a young man touched the feet of a Brahmin man, who is said to be mentally deranged, and has sparked a socio-political debate. From the context behind the incident to the intention behind it going viral—every aspect is being questioned.
Details of the incident: What happened?
Video content: A Yadav youth touched the feet of a Brahmin man (who is said to be mentally deranged) sitting on the road and then abused him, calling himself a “Namra Yadav”.
Derogatory comments: In the video, the youth targeted everyone from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to the Brahmin community.
Viral intent: The incident was deliberately recorded and posted on social media, using hashtags like “Dalit-Backward unity”.
यह घटना कन्नौज की है…
— Anuj Agnihotri Swatntra (@ASwatntra) June 25, 2025
जब एक मानसिक विक्षिप्त ब्राह्मण से एक यादव ने जब पैर छुआए तब कहा बिल में समा गए थे यह नेता और सेकुलर और धर्म के ठेकेदार?
मुख्यमंत्री योगी से लेकर ब्राह्मणों पर भी अभद्र टिप्पणी की, पैर दबवाए, गाली दी, पूरे समाज को अपमानित करके वीडियो वायरल करवाया। pic.twitter.com/tOnumSLHy6
Three major aspects of the controversy
- Exploitation of mental health
The victim’s family claims: “He is suffering from schizophrenia and was wandering around due to non-availability of medicines. He was mocked.”
Psychiatrist Dr. Rajiv Mishra says: “Mocking a mentally challenged person in this way is cruelty, not social awareness.”
- The orgy of caste politics
Allegation: The person who made the video tried to gain cheap popularity in the name of “anti-Brahminism.”
Reaction: Leaders of the Brahmin community filed an FIR, while Yadav organizations condemned it.
- The hypocrisy of secularism?
Question: Would “Hindu culture” be cursed if such an incident had happened with a Muslim or a Dalit?
Fact: Last year, a similar incident (a Dalit youth touching the feet of a sadhu and abusing him) received less attention from the media.
Political upheaval: Who is the real target?
BJP vs Samajwadi Party: Allegations that the video was made viral by SP supporters to increase “Brahmin-Yadav tension”.
Attack on Yogi government: Comments in the video calling CM Yogi “Brahminist” gave a political twist to the controversy.
Legal action
FIR: Case registered under sections 294 (obscenity), 504 (intentional insult) of IPC and SC/ST Act.
Arrest: The youth who made the video has been detained by the police.
Sociological analysis
“This incident shows the horrors of ‘virtual activism’ in the social media age. People are now ready to cross any limit in the name of social justice.”
— Dr. Vijay Pratap, Department of Social Sciences, Lucknow University
