Katha To Caste Conflict: Brahmin Vs Yadav Turns Into Political Battle In UP's Etawah
What began as a religious discourse and humiliation of a Yadav narrator in a Brahmin-majority village led to mass protests, clashes with police, and a sharp political response
'First they asked about my caste. When I said I was a Yadav, they accused me of being a Dalit. Then they beat me, chopped off my hair, and shaved my head," recalled Bhagwat Katha narrator Mukut Mani Yadav, trembling after what he says was a brutal caste-based attack in Dadarapur village of Etawah.
What began as a religious discourse and public humiliation of a Yadav narrator in a Brahmin-majority village has triggered a fierce backlash, leading to mass protests, violent clashes with police, and a sharp political response—sparking a fierce Brahmin vs Yadav confrontation in the heart of Uttar Pradesh.
The incident took place on June 22 during a Bhagwat Katha organised at the residence of Jai Prakash Tiwari in Dadarapur village, about 35 km from Etawah town. Narrator Mukut Mani Yadav, who was invited by local priest Ram Swaroop Das, alleged that he was first asked his caste by locals. Upon learning he was a Yadav, a group of villagers allegedly assaulted him, shaved his head, and vandalized his musical instruments.
A video that went viral shows the narrator's hair being cut off by youths amid loud jeers. His associate's head was also forcibly shaved. According to Mukut Mani, a female devotee was forced to rub her nose on someone's feet in an act of forced humiliation. 'They said Yadavs had no right to preach in a Brahmin village," he claimed.
'He told my wife to feed him by hand and serve him for seven days to gain punya," Jai Prakash told reporters. 'My wife got scared and informed me. When I confronted them, they left in a hurry and dropped two Aadhaar cards—one with Agnihotri and one with Yadav."
His wife, Renu, added, 'We were told he was an Agnihotri. We never asked his caste after that. But his behavior during rituals was uncomfortable. He was touching inappropriately during puja."
Both deny involvement in any violent act, saying that 'some boys in the village" acted on their own.
इटावा के बकेवर इलाके के दान्दरपुर गांव में भागवत कथा के दौरान कथावाचक और उनके सहायकों की जाति पूछने पर पीडीए की एक जाति बताने पर, कुछ वर्चस्ववादी और प्रभुत्ववादी लोगों ने साथ अभद्र व्यवहार करते हुए उनके बाल कटवाए, नाक रगड़वाई और इलाके की शुद्धि कराई।हमारा संविधान जातिगत भेदभाव… pic.twitter.com/Pr11ohEp59
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) June 23, 2025
YADAV ANGER EXPLODES
On Thursday, the situation escalated dramatically when nearly 2,000 members of various Yadav organizations gathered outside Dadarapur, demanding the release of Indian Reforms Organization's national president Gagan Yadav, who was detained by police ahead of his planned protest visit. The crowd turned aggressive, blocking the Agra-Kanpur National Highway and clashing with police.
According to officials, the protesters pelted stones at police vehicles, breaking windshields and injuring personnel. In response, police used force to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses say a Circle Officer and Inspector drew their pistols and chased protesters, with unconfirmed reports of aerial firing.
'A few people tried to incite violence. Stone pelting happened. But there was no police firing," said ASP Rural Shreeshchandra. Nineteen protesters have been detained, and search operations have been launched in four villages—Dadarapur, Ureng, Pahadpura, and Noudhana—for others involved.
AKHILESH YADAV'S INTERVENTION
As the protests gained traction, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav weighed in strongly, turning the incident into a political flashpoint. He met Mukut Mani and Sant Kumar in Lucknow, offered them Rs 51,000 each, and gifted them new musical instruments. He also invited them to perform a Katha at the SP headquarters.
'Prabhutvawadi seemayein langh gayi hain (supremacist limits have been crossed)," Akhilesh said. 'They shave heads, beat people, snatch instruments, and demand money. Who gives these supremacists such impunity? This is a heartless government that supports every unconstitutional act."
A VILLAGE DIVIDED, A TEMPLE EMPTY
Dadarapur, a village with 103 Brahmin households and a mix of Thakur and Dalit families, now resembles a fortress. Roads are barricaded, police from 12 stations are deployed, and tension hangs heavy. The temple where the Katha was held is locked. The sacred kalash lies abandoned. The event tent has been dismantled. Ram Swaroop Das, the priest who arranged the Katha, is absconding.
Locals admit that caste was not discussed openly until now. 'No one knew they were Yadavs," said a villager. 'The invitation card listed him as Pandit Mukut Mani Maharaj from Vrindavan. His assistant Surdas had a family link here. That's how it came out."
THE POLITICAL UNDERCURRENT
While the state government has remained largely silent, the opposition has found in this a potent narrative of upper caste oppression and police bias. Dalit and OBC activists have drawn parallels to past cases where caste-based humiliation went unpunished or was institutionally inverted through FIRs against victims.
'The government must answer—how is the victim now the accused?" asked Rajeev Yadav, a protester from Mainpuri. 'Is this justice or a show of caste supremacy?" he added.
With the village still tense, political temperatures rising, and no arrests of the alleged attackers, the road to justice appears uncertain.
But one thing is clear: the Brahmin vs Yadav flashpoint in Dadarapur is no longer a local issue.
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Etawah, India, India
First Published:
June 27, 2025, 18:39 IST
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