Riyadh : All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party president Chief barrister Asaduddin Owaisi demanded police action against YouTuber and register FIR who harassed a vendor during Medaram Jathara recently.
A Muslim street vendor from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, has alleged that he was publicly harassed during the recent Medaram Jathara after a group of YouTubers accused him of engaging in what they called “food jihad.”
The incident reportedly occurred when a team claiming to be from Tejaswi News approached the vendor, identified as Shaik Shaiksha Vali, and began questioning him about the food he was selling at the festival.
According to Vali, the group demanded that he prove the food was safe and legitimate. He was allegedly forced to eat his own food on camera to counter the accusations.
During the confrontation, Vali explained that he was only responsible for selling the items and did not handle their preparation. “I only sell here, I don’t know where the bread gets made,” he told the YouTubers, adding that the ingredients were arranged by his employer.
“If the police keep mum, it will set a precedent. The YouTubers are spreading venom targeting the Muslim community. They should be arrested and their video should be taken down,” said Asaduddin Owaisi.
He said people of all communities go and do business at Medaram Jathara. “It is wrong to target anyone in such a manner,” the AIMIM president said.
Videos of the incident circulated on social media, triggering widespread criticism. Residents from his hometown in Kurnool, along with several influencers and political representatives, came forward in support of the vendor.
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Many condemned the actions of the YouTubers, accusing them of creating provocative content for “views and likes” rather than reporting responsibly.
The episode has reignited debate over the spread of misinformation and communal allegations online, as well as the conduct of independent digital content creators at public events.
Calls have been made for greater accountability to ensure that individuals are not subjected to public humiliation or targeted on religious grounds.
Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the matter at the time of reporting.
