Why was Hindustani Bhau arrested?

Vikas Fhatak, the Bigg Boss 13 participant and YouTuber popularly known as Hindustani Bhau, was arrested by the Mumbai Police on February 1 on multiple charges for instigating students for protests in Maharashtra.

Hindustani Bhau, a popular figure on social media, is known for his imitation of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. In his videos, he is often brash and doesn't hesitate to use expletives left, right and centre. He also once met Sanjay Dutt, in front of whom he delivered a few dialogues of the actor.

The Maharashtra police, this morning, arrested Hindustani Bhau under several charges including that of rioting, Maharashtra Police Act, Disaster Management Act, Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, news agency ANI reported.

Mumbai: Social media influencer Vikas Fhatak, also known as 'Hindustani Bhau', arrested by Dharavi Police in connection with students' protest in Dharavi y'day over their demand for online exams for classes 10th & 12th, in view of #COVID19. FIR registered against Fhatak & others.

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2022

Also, this is not the first time that the YouTuber has been arrested. In May 2021, he was arrested by the Mumbai Police for taking an ambulance to Shivaji Park to protest against offline exams. 

First, see the video which led to the protests and his consequent arrest:

1. WHO IS HINDUSTANI BHAU?

Vikas Fhatak or Hindustani Bhau has previously been in the news for his rants, his threats to filmmakers, and his staunch stand on 'New India'. Hindustani Bhau came into prominence in 2019 when his videos, in which he takes an anti-Pakistani stand, went viral.

YouTube, in one such instance, also deleted his account after his videos violated the company's community guidelines. But later, he made another account. He currently uses this second account. YouTube even awarded him with a Silver creator award for crossing 800,000 followers. 

Before becoming a Youtuber, Bhau was a journalist. According to the Times of India, reported by Aaj Tak, Bhau was a crime reporter with a local news channel. In 2011, he received an award from the publication for the best crime reporter.

2. WHAT DID HINDUSTANI BHAU SAY IN THE LATEST VIDEO?

In the video published on his YouTube account on January 24, Hindustani Bhau demanded the cancellation of offline exams and that the exams be held online. “Don’t play with the lives of children. Cancel the exams,” he said.

He mentioned about the sorrow of people who lost their near and dear ones to the coronavirus, and said that pushing children once again into the risk would be detrimental to their future. His tone in the address was strong. He even mentioned his protest from 'the last time', when he was alone, and said that this time he will hit the streets with lakhs of students.

“Students should be given respite otherwise there will be andolan and tandav,” Hindustani Bhau said. He challenged the government to slap as many cases against him as they want, and said that he didn’t care about his life.

3. STUDENTS' PROTEST

On Monday, several students took out protests holding placards against the offline board exams of Class 10 and 12. In Mumbai, a few students also protested near the residence of state School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad near Ashok Mill Naka, near Dharavi.

Along with this, students also protested in Mumbai, Thane, Nasik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Osmanabad and a couple of other places. The police also resorted to light baton charge when a protest in Mumbai got a bit out of hand, with the students damaging 2 public buses. The police later said that no student was injured and that a few of them were detained but later released. The police added that the students didn’t have any permission to protest.

4. EDUCATION MINISTER REACTS

Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has asked the protesting students to table their grievances through appropriate channels and said that the government is ready to listen to them. In fact, the Education Minister, as well as her deputy Bacchu Kadu, were taken aback by the sudden protests and they only came to know about them through the news channels.

Gaikwad said, ”We are considering all issues while conducting exams. It is not right for an organisation bring children to the streets. They can discuss with us." She added that the government and education department will discuss this with education experts also.

In the end, Gaikwad mentioned that the government is ready to listen to any suggestions from the students.

5. MAHARASHTRA HOME MINISTER CALLS IT CONSPIRACY

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil has called it an outside conspiracy. He said that if the students of the state wanted to have a say on the issues, they should have raised it with the government.

“We do not think that students took to the roads of their own accord. There is someone behind this. Police will investigate it,” Walse said. He said that the protests which took place in big cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur seemed to be premeditated and that there was definitely some sprt of organisation behind it.

6. TWITTER STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF BHAU

Students on Twitter supported Hindustani Bhau and demanded his release. Here are some reactions: 

?️THANK YOU #hindustanibhau for your support...?#cancleboardexam2022 pic.twitter.com/5k0sKRcUwD

— THE YOUTH VOICE™ (@theyouthvoice07) January 29, 2022

#releasehindustanibhauHe got arrested just for supporting students? Since when protesting and fighting for your rights became illegal..the one who is manipulating students are media and government. bhau has done nothing wrong#hindustanibhau

— Upper 6 (@Prince_Singh44) February 1, 2022

He is the one who helped us to raise our voice. Plz release him as fast as you can.Shame on you MH government arresting a person who has not done anything wrong really shame on you. #hindustanibhau

— STMW121 Shriya Mushrif (@MushrifShriya) February 1, 2022

This is so unfair with students as well as hindustani bhau if politicians protests on road thats fair but if students protest for their lives this is not fair different rules for different persons #cancelboardexams2022 Release hindustani bhau. https://t.co/gmar3rhv6h

— Vinay (@notrealvinay) February 1, 2022