Vipin Pandey, a BJP leader from Uttarakhand, is known for openly promoting anti-Muslim bigotry and enforcing communal segregation in public and commercial spaces.

On May 6, during a protest organized by the VHP and Bajrang Dal in response to a sexual assault case in Nainital, Pandey falsely alleged that Muslim juice vendors were spitting into the drinks they sold, claiming, without any basis, that such actions were encouraged by the Quran. 

In Nainital, after the Pahalgam terror attack, he urged fruit and vegetable vendors to declare their Hindu identity by wearing a gamchha or using other religious symbols on their stalls. He claimed Muslims deliberately avoided naming their shops to conceal their identity and insisted Hindu vendors must visibly mark their faith to attract buyers. His appeal encouraged a boycott of Muslim vendors and sought to inject religion into everyday trade, deepening communal divides.

Pandey’s targeting of Muslims is not limited to public statements. In an earlier incident in Uttar Pradesh, he harassed a Muslim biryani seller named Irshad for using the name “Bablu” on his stall. Despite the shop being legally registered as HM Hotel, Pandey demanded Irshad disclose his religious identity and threatened violence, warning he would throw away his goods.

The incident was part of a broader campaign of intimidation during Ram Navami, where over 15 Muslim-owned businesses were forced to shut down or publicly declare their faith.