Lakhpat Singh Bhandari is the vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Pauri-Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. He is known for his hate speeches and controversial claims propagating conspiracy theories of “Love Jihad” during rallies.

In late 2024, he is part of the Sanyukt Sanatan Dharam Raksha Sangh, a Hindu outfit demanding the demolition of a 55-year-old mosque in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, spreading false information about the mosque’s legality and vilifying the Muslim community. The issue had led to stone-pelting and police baton charges in October 2024, when a protest turned violent as tensions flared.

In October 2024, Bhandari faced legal action for his inflammatory comments targeting Muslims at a large awareness and warning rally in Srinagar, Uttarakhand where he commented on alleged harassment cases involving interfaith interactions. He threatened to economically boycott Muslims and “burn down shops belonging to members of the minority community” in order to “teach them a lesson” and to “gouge out their eyes” if they targeted Hindu girls under the pretext of “love jihad.”

Referring to a 2024 case in which a Muslim man allegedly harassed a sixth-grade Hindu student, Bhandari called on parents to remain vigilant, warning minority men “against targeting daughters with wrong intentions.” He also threatened to hold a protest if a missing Hindu girl was not found, giving the police an ultimatum, which led to more communal clashes. In response, Bhandari claimed he was unaware of the consequence and that some people may have ransacked the shops of Muslims “in anger.”

His social media posts mainly consist of praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promotes his wife, the Mayor of the region, depicting her attending various events.