What the storyteller said
In the viral video, Ashutosh Chaitanya can be heard saying:
“Do you know how many cows are being slaughtered in Takhatpur, Chhattisgarh? Those who were once Sanatanis have now become Satnamis. Those fools don’t even know what ‘Satnami’ means. The true ‘Sat Naam’ belongs only to Lord Ram, and these people, calling themselves Satnamis, are slaughtering cows. All this is happening before your eyes, and you remain indifferent.”
These remarks have been described by the Satnami community as deeply offensive and hurtful to religious sentiments. Community leaders stated that such language from a religious platform is unacceptable and promotes division among communities.
Protest and police station gherao
As the video went viral, hundreds of people gathered outside the Takhatpur police station, shouting slogans and demanding the storyteller’s arrest. Senior police officers reached the spot and held discussions with the protestors, assuring them of prompt action against the accused, after which the crowd dispersed peacefully.
FIR filed, security tightened
The Takhatpur police in-charge confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Ashutosh Chaitanya for allegedly promoting enmity between communities and hurting religious sentiments. Authorities have tightened security around the Bhagwat Katha venue at Tikri Para in Takhatpur to prevent any untoward incident. Police personnel have been deployed around the site for continuous monitoring.
Storyteller issues apology
As the controversy escalated, Ashutosh Chaitanya released a new video expressing regret and apologizing for his words. He stated, “It was never my intention to hurt anyone’s religious feelings. My words have been misinterpreted. I have great respect for the Satnami community.”
Administration urges peace
The Bilaspur district administration has appealed to citizens to maintain peace and restraint. Officials said that legal proceedings are underway and that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. The situation in the area is reported to be under control.
