A video is doing the rounds on social media platforms wherein several men can be seen throwing water on a couple at one of Varanasi’s most renowned ghats.
As per the information available online, the video was shot at the Manikarnika ghat on Holi, March 25. The crowd can be heard shouting and hooting, along with heckling the couple, especially the woman. Some individuals can also be heard repeatedly urging the woman to leave the ghat.
“Ja bhabhi ja (Go bhabhi, go)…Holi hai,” the men can be heard saying as they cheer on the appalling behavior directed towards the couple.
How did the netizens react to the video?
Lavanya Ballal Jain, a Congress spokesperson, shared the video on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “One would expect women to be safe at a Shakthi Peet. But in Varanasi’s Manikarnika Ghat women are harassed. This visual is from the day of Holi, look at the bunch of thugs harassing the couple. One would expect better from the place represented by the PM himself. Our tax money distributed disproportionately to UP has not civilized them.”
“Modi ji, what kind of India are you creating?” read a text on the video she shared.
Besides Jain, many other people have come forward to criticise the men’s behaviour.
“Holi is unfortunately becoming an excuse to harass women,” said a user on X.
Another user wrote, “Parliamentary constituency of PM Modi, is not safe for women.”
An account that goes by the name ‘Hate Detector’ shared the video as well. Captioning the post it wrote that the youngsters were embarrassing the lady in front of her partner in the name of Holi celebrations.