Sohan Singh Solanki, the National Convenor of the Bajrang Dal since 2018, has emerged as one of the most vocal figures of the Hindutva movement. A resident of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, a tribal-dominated region, Solanki’s three-decade-long journey began as a full-time pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His tenure in the Bajrang Dal has been marked by his staunch and aggressive stance on issues tied to Hindutva ideology, often invoking deeply divisive themes in his speeches.

On December 22, 2024, during the Shaurya Yatra organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in Haridwar, Solanki delivered an incendiary address that demonized Muslims, branding them as “terrorists.” He made false claims, stating that when Muslims are in the minority, they “make idols,” but when they become the majority, they “destroy our idols.”

He also falsely accused Muslims of creating societal divisions, alleging that the caste system, untouchability, and wedding processions were all born out of fear of Muslims. Solanki further stoked fears about the presence of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in Haridwar, labeling them as a threat to Hindu identity. His speech included derogatory terms such as “pigs” for Muslims and perpetuated the dangerous conspiracy theory of ‘land jihad,’ accusing Muslims of targeting Hindu women, killing cows, and seizing land.

On December 18, 2024, during a “Shaurya Sabha” in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, Solanki’s incendiary speech escalated as he referred to Muslims as “pigs” and demanded the renaming of all places associated with Muslim names. He made unsubstantiated claims, alleging that practices like untouchability and caste hierarchies were a result of fear induced by Muslims. 

On December 8, 2024, at a “Shaurya Yatra” rally in Mathura’s Ved Mandir, Solanki delivered a provocative address, declaring that Hindus were prepared to “reclaim” the Krishna Janmabhoomi site at a single call from religious leaders. He invoked conspiracy theories like “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “thook jihad,” claiming an alleged plot by “anti-Hindu” forces to convert Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. This rally underscored his tendency to weaponise religious identity and sow division under the guise of protecting Hindu culture.

As a leader, Solanki has been at the forefront of campaigns opposing interfaith relationships, cow slaughter, religious conversions, and the portrayal of Hindu deities in popular culture. He has also led aggressive protests against comedians, such as Munawar Faruqui, whom he accused of denigrating Hinduism. Solanki once remarked that Faruqui “is not an individual but an idea: how to denigrate Hinduism.”