The 10-day ‘Sanatan Hindu Ekta Padyatra’ organized last month by Hindutva icon Dhirendra Shastri lived up to expectations as the apparently ‘apolitical’ rally tuned into a platform for aggressive political posturing and championing the cause of a Hindu Rashtra. From meat and liquor ban to ‘grar wapsi of ‘Love Jihad’ victims to ‘Mandir Wahi Banega’ to veiled threats to non-Hindus, the rally had it all.

Shastri, more popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, led the ‘ walk’ from Delhi to Vrindavan to mobilize Hindus – ostensibly for the preservation of their religion and culture. However, during the course of the march , Shastri gave speeches that were unapologetically communal in tone and implication.

Take, for instance, this pledge , taken by Shastri in the presence of thous

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