Deepak Tarachand Sahu, a local BJP leader and former president of the Sahu Samaj in Chhattisgarh, openly instigated communal hatred and violence during a gathering at Shaktighat on February 11, 2023. Addressing a crowd at a Sahu Samaj event, Sahu said, “This nation doesn’t belong to Mullas or Qazis. This nation belongs to Veer Shivaji.”

He accused the Muslim community of attempting to convert India into a Muslim nation within the next 25 to 50 years and declared, “I declare here that this agenda of yours will never succeed. This country does not belong to Mullas and Qazis, this country is Veer Shivaji’s. This is Hanuman’s country. There is no space for Mullas and Qazis here. This is the land of our gods and goddesses. Here we will worship our gods and goddesses.”

Sahu called for the mobilization of Hindus beyond speeches, warning that a “war” had begun. He said, “I appeal to you that this speech should not just be limited to this stage. 

The war has now begun and this should not be stopped. I promise you, here Sahu Samaj’s President is sitting, we are with Sahu Samaj.” Threatening violence against Muslims, he told the crowd, “To the Muslim community I want to say that till today you lived a peaceful life and there was no communal tension but if you take a Hindu girl then we will kill you.” At this point, the crowd erupted in cheers. 

Sahu further added, “We do not wear bangles in our hands, if needed we will pick our weapons. There are cases against me and I have been to jail but that Hindu whose blood hasn’t boiled yet, that is no blood but water. Within me blood flows, not water.”