Protest at New York's Times Square Over CJI Gavai’s ‘Lord Vishnu’ Remark: Diaspora Demands Apology, Calls It Anti-Hindu

A group of Indian-origin protesters gathered at New York’s Times Square on November 8, 2025, demanding an apology from Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai for his recent Hindu deity remarks he made in court that they claimed were “disrespectful” toward Hindu beliefs.

On September 16, 2025, during the hearing concerning the restoration of a damaged Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho temple complex, a bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran was told that the idol was mutilated during the Mughal invasions. Refusing any relief, the CJI had said, "Go and ask the deity now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, so go and pray now".

The demonstration at Times Square was organised by a diaspora outfit named Stop Hindu Genocide, which accused Justice Gavai of “mocking” Hindu sentiments.

Protesters displayed banners against CJI Gavai and distributed pamphlets calling on the Indian judiciary to show greater sensitivity toward matters of faith. The group alleged that the CJI’s observation, “Pray to Lord Vishnu”, made while hearing the plea, amounted to trivialising a sacred issue.

The Times Square protest saw participants chanting slogans and holding placards demanding CJI Gavai’s resignation. Videos and photos from the demonstration were shared widely on social media, with organisers saying the protest symbolised “a deep hurt” felt by Hindus worldwide.

“This isn’t about one remark. It’s about a pattern of disregard for Hindu sentiments,” a representative of the group said, claiming that the judiciary’s tone on matters concerning temples and deities often appears dismissive.

The Stop Hindu Genocide group, which describes itself as a network working to document and oppose anti-Hindu bias, said in a statement that its campaign aimed to “hold powerful individuals accountable for normalising mockery of Hindu beliefs".

The protest followed the release of an open letter posted at the organisation's website, addressed to CJI Gavai, which accused him and other members of the Indian judiciary of showing “deep-seated prejudice” against Hinduism.

Calling the CJI's remark “flippant” and “an insult to core Hindu beliefs,” the letter alleged that the judge’s words amounted to mockery of both Vaishnavite and Shaivite traditions and echoed “colonial-era tropes” that had long demeaned Hindu deities.

“You occupy one of India’s most prestigious constitutional offices,” the letter said, “but given the blatant bigotry evident in your comments, we cannot bring ourselves to address you with the honour normally due to your position".