New Delhi: An Instagram post by a user called ‘Hindustani Bhau’ has triggered an outrage on social media for calling for “action” against those who hurt the user’s God or religion.
The video, which was available until Tuesday evening, was eventually taken down but not before users had flagged its content. The Facebook-owned company had initially stated that the content “doesn’t violate Instagram’s community standards”, according to some users who had flagged the video.
“We absolutely do not allow behaviour that threatens the safety of our community and removed this content yesterday (Tuesday) for violating our Community Guidelines,” an Instagram spokesperson told ThePrint in an email response.
Social media users have demanded that the Mumbai Police take action against ‘Hindustani Bhau’. Some even called for his arrest.
This man #hindustanibhau has a verified account on Instagram and he has the job to give open call to violence. He do so in his every video. This can create mob and result danger. For all of this he was the part of #BiggBoss last year.@AnilDeshmukhNCP @MumbaiPolice https://t.co/oCXd6ajxSe
— Furquan Khan (@furquan28) August 19, 2020
Vikas Fhatak aka Hindustani bhau has neither "Hindustani" traits nor would I call such uneducated filth "BHAU"
His thoughts are no better than Talibani or ISIS. ALL he deserves is jail cell. He has no place in any well cultured or well mannered society.#Bhau #hindustanibhau pic.twitter.com/bPbYF2O9DC
— Tisha Mishra🇮🇳 (@TishaMishra_) August 18, 2020
Shocking. This is an open instigation for violence.This person should be arrested. @AnilDeshmukhNCP @OfficeofUT @MumbaiPolice @PawarSpeaks https://t.co/Pkevif4cnX
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) August 18, 2020
Who is ‘Hindustani Bhau’?
People who follow the Bigg Boss series recognised the man in the video as Vikas Phatak from season 13. Phatak has verified accounts on both Instagram and Facebook, with a following of 3.4 million users on Instagram. His past videos have clocked about an average of 1 million views. Many of them tend to have abusive content.
In the controversial video, Phatak says, “System side mein, complaint side mein, ab inko marna hai bas. (Put the system and complaints aside, I just want to hit them now).”
He goes on to verbally abuse and threaten whosoever makes fun of his religion or God, saying they will not be forgiven anymore. The video lasts 2.09 minutes long.
Among those who flagged Phatak’s video was comedian Kunal Kamra.
“Calling for open violence is a crime. This is a mob building & hate spreading exercise. This is deeply alarming. Could lead to violence & an artist not getting due process,” tweeted Kamra, who also remarked that Phatak’s statements such as “system side main” is an insult to the Constitution.
Kamra’s criticism resulted in Phatak responding on Instagram saying he will be “revealing the truth” about the comedian soon.
Instagram told ThePrint that Phatak’s accounts, despite his content, was verified since their screening criteria requires a user to be a real person and the account to be public and represent someone who is “well known” and a “brand”.
Phatak’s other videos that garnered attention where of him slamming actor Anushka Sharma for her web series Bulbul and Ekta Kapoor for XXX 2.
Also read: Instagram takes down Madonna’s posts for spreading Covid conspiracy theories, misinformation
Good boy.
Congress’s IT Cell.
Good one.
Hope you continue to show one-sided journalism and make it good by duping others in future too.(comments not related to this article or any article).
Little correction – Bulbul is a film not series
This gentleman Mr. Hindustani Bhau only expresses his outrage using words.
But India’s “special community” actually indulges in violence, riots, burning property…. all within 1 hour of anyone “hurting their sentiments”.
The “special community” can say anything on Twitter, they can insult or say filthy things about Hindu Gods under “freedom of expression” – Twitter or Instagram is OK with all that. Hindus are weaklings, anyone can insult them and get away with it.
Typical bhakt whataboutery. Just remember- the rioters were arrested too.
What exactly is your point? That everyone should display such behaviour ?
Any kind of violence should be condemned- no matter what the provocation is and no matter who indulges in it.
Aha Anonymous gyani, trigger-happy to label everyone bhakt. 😀 That’syour whataboutery
Waht Titus and Bhau said are absolutely right. Icitement or no incitement, this derogation of Hindu beliefs & Gods have gone too far. So the freedom-of-expression bunch who so happily express their freedom with Hindu religion, should be happy to get their collective asses kicked as that’s a freedom that the ppl getting offended have too. Sab pele jaoge!
So shekhar and HIS Print gone so bankrupt to quote a third grade comedian eg Kunal Kamra. Pity