Raipur: A local Hindutva leader and media influencer, Aaadesh Soni, has sparked controversy with a public call for violence against Christians in Chhattisgarh, India. The threats, made on March 1, included mass attacks and sexual assault against women.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Soni’s threats target the Christian community in the villages of Bishrampur, Ganeshpur, and Jhanakpur. He accused the community of “brainwashing children” through religious conversions. In a viral video, Soni claimed that a mobilization of at least 50,000 people would “target Christian families, execute their leaders, and erase all traces of their faith from the region.”

The video, posted on Soni’s Meta profile, has been viewed by over 30,000 people. In the footage, Soni addresses a gathering of Hindutva supporters, echoing a previous statement made by Swami Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The January statement, made at a Hindu council in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, called for the killing of those who slaughter cows.

The local administration’s response has been questioned, with Soni asserting that he has their support. Msgr. Victor Henry Thakur, Archbishop of Raipur, expressed concern over the potential for violence. He told AsiaNews that if attacks occur, it would indicate a failure of the administration and place responsibility on the Chhattisgarh government. Despite the inflammatory rhetoric, no action has been taken against Soni so far.