A video showing a man questioning, abusing and hitting two students has gone viral on social media.

The man has been identified as Satyam Pandit, a Hindutva nationalist said to be based in Ghaziabad. The clip has been shared by several politicians, including Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

Akhilesh Yadav Mahua Moitra
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Akhilesh Yadav Mahua Moitra | X

What the video shows

In the video, Pandit is seen wearing a white kurta with a saffron scarf. He questions two students, asking who they support and what their names are.

When one student says he is Hindu, Pandit asks him why he is supporting “this party (seemingly Cockroach Janta Party),” which he claims is raising “anti-national students.”

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The man is heard hurling abuses at the students before grabbing one of them by the collar and hitting him, even as the student tries to defend himself.

He then forces the student to face the camera, apologise, and warns him of consequences if he is spotted at the protest site again.

“Dikhega aj ke baad? Bhot maarunga (Will you be seen after this? I’ll beat you up),” the man says in the video, which is filled with abusive language.

It is still not clear whether the students in the video are minors or adults, or when the video was actually recorded.

Political reactions

Sharing the video, Akhilesh Yadav demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and said BJP members “aren’t even loyal to their own promises.”

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“Let everyone witness the BJP and their allies’ misconduct, vile words, and violence. Behold their audacity: mere hours have passed since promises were made to the youth, and these BJP members are repeating their historical betrayals by deceiving once again. These so called cultured BJP leaders are brazenly tearing apart the assurances given by their top leadership and even filming videos of it. Is this too happening because of a clash between the double engines?” Yadav wrote on X.

“BJP: The Antithesis of Trust!” he added.

Mahua Moitra also shared the video, writing, “This foul rabid animal named Satyam Pandit needs to be picked up by @DelhiPolice asap & booked. Else we file an FIR.”

Background, Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation

The video surfaced against the backdrop of student protests that led to education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Cockroach Janta Party, founded and led by Abhijeet Dipke, had been protesting at Jantar Mantar for 36 days, demanding Pradhan step down over the NEET UG paper leak. Similar protests were held across the country in support of this demand.

Dharmendra Pradhan
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Dharmendra Pradhan resigns | X

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On Saturday, the government gave in to the students’ demands, and Pradhan resigned from his post. Consumer affairs minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the education ministry following the resignation.

The Cockroach Janta Party called off its protest on Saturday, saying their demands had been met.

FAQs

1: Who is Satyam Pandit?

He is a Hindutva nationalist reportedly based in Ghaziabad, identified as the man seen assaulting students in a viral video.

2: Who shared the video?

Politicians including Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra shared the clip on social media.