A local Hindutva leader has sparked widespread concern after publicly calling for attacks against Christian communities in three Chhattisgarh villages on 1 March 2025.
Aadesh Soni, described in reports as a “local Hindutva leader and social media influencer” and “self-proclaimed life coach, communication trainer, poet, and writer from Chhattisgarh,” has allegedly called on Hindus to “attack, rape, and kill Christians across the villages of Bishrampur, Ganeshpur, and Jhanakpur in Chhattisgarh,” according to multiple reports.
Reports state that Soni “declared on social media that the plan was to ‘kill all Christians, violate the honor of their daughters and daughters-in-law, commit obscene acts against them, forcibly enter Christian homes, and spare no one but corrupt them all.’” He reportedly called on followers to “mobilise at least 50,000 people for an attack on March 1, 2025.”
“I have got the support of the administration, this is enough for me,” Soni claimed, according to reports.
However, recent updates indicate that Soni has denied making these threats through videos posted on his social media accounts, particularly Instagram. In these posts, Soni has reportedly blamed Arun Pannalal of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum for amplifying fake news without proper verification.
According to this updated information, Soni claims that Pannalal has spread these allegations to protect people who are involved in cow flesh trade. His Instagram videos indicate that Soni has filed an FIR against Pannalal.
Despite these denials, Soni reportedly maintains that under his leadership, 5,000 people will march to the villages in question. He claims on social media that there will be no violence but does not deny the possibility of a physical altercation if they are provoked.
Religious Leaders Respond
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has written to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, expressing “deep concern” over what they describe as hate speech delivered at a “Religious Parliament” event.
“Our hearts are pained, and we are in grief after hearing in detail how meticulously the hate speech was constructed,” the NBCC letter read, according to reports.
The NBCC “urged the Chief Minister to take swift and decisive action to prevent potential violence and ensure the safety of vulnerable communities” ahead of the planned “Morcha” on 1 March 2025.
Msgr. Victor Henry Thakur, Archbishop of Raipur, told AsiaNews: “Now that Aadesh Soni’s hate speech has gone viral, if there is any incident or attack in that area, it will not be an accident, but rather a clear indication that the administration has not only failed, but has allowed something to happen. In this case the government of Chhattisgarh will be fully responsible. So far the government has done nothing against Aadesh Soni.”
Allegations Linked to Cow Slaughter
According to reports, Soni defends his rhetoric by “accusing Christians of engaging in the slaughter of cows, a revered animal in Hinduism,” which is banned in Chhattisgarh.
Reports indicate that in his Facebook post, Soni “referred to Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati’s speech at Prayagraj, where it was declared that Hindus must ‘kill all Christians, and none should be spared.’“
Saraswati reportedly called for “1,000 Hindus to rise and ‘slay those who slay our mother cow. Do not ask for the death penalty for cow slayers - kill them and ask for the death penalty for yourselves. Do not wait for the law to act.’“
“Aadesh Soni is supported by bloodthirsty right-wing groups, and the group he represents also has the backing of figures like Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati,” said Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.
Legal Complaints and Appeals
The Association of Concerned Christians has filed a complaint at Vartaknagar Police Station in Thane against Soni. The complaint demands “the filing of an FIR against a resident of Chhattisgarh who is accused of making hateful and inflammatory statements against the Christian community, including threats to forcibly drag women out of their homes and torture them.”
“His statements hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community and violate the principles of secularism as well as the right to religious freedom of the Indian Constitution. These kinds of statements are likely to disturb the peace in the society and lead to riots,” said Melvin Fernandez, secretary of the AOCC.
Christian social reformer Vishal Mangalwadi has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging intervention. “These threats of the massacre cannot be ignored because the gang that burnt alive Graham Staines and his two sons in Honourable President Smt Murmu’s former constituency, Mayurbhanj, also claimed to be cow-defenders,” he wrote.
Rising Pattern of Violence
Reports indicate that “violent attacks on minority communities in India, particularly Christians and Muslims, have been rising in recent years. In 2024, there were 834 incidents targeting Christians, a notable rise compared to 2023, which saw 734 such attacks.”
The NBCC letter “highlighted India’s secular fabric and democratic values” and “emphasised the need to uphold religious freedom and protect minority communities.” It expressed concern over “a growing pattern of suppression and violence against religious minorities, particularly Christians.”
The letter also “pointed out that Soni had allegedly linked the Chief Minister and state authorities as collaborators in his speech and urged Sai to distance himself from such claims and reaffirm his role as a leader for all communities in Chhattisgarh.”
In its appeal, the NBCC urged the Chief Minister to “take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions ahead of the planned Morcha on March 1, 2025, and ensure security for all.”
This reporting is based on compilations from various reports and uses direct quotes as they appeared in those sources.
