Shimla/Solan, July 1: The growing culture of self-styled social media influencers and online anchors pushing the limits of responsible speech has come under scrutiny in Himachal Pradesh, with social media activist Yashika Thakur facing demands for criminal prosecution over alleged casteist remarks against the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
The controversy has snowballed into a major legal and social issue after the Himalaya Janjatiya Lok Adhikar Mahasangh (HP) submitted a complaint to the SHO of Sadar Police Station, Solan, seeking registration of an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Not only this yuvak Mandal of Udaipur subdivision in Lahaul-Spiti has lodged an FIR Against Yashika Thakur at Udaipur police station, seeking legal action against her.
The complaint alleges that Thakur crossed the line from criticism to hate speech by allegedly posting abusive, humiliating and casteist comments on Facebook targeting the entire Scheduled Tribe community, particularly people from Lahaul-Spiti.
Tribal leaders say the posts amounted to a public insult of a constitutionally protected community and were capable of disturbing communal harmony.
Among the remarks cited in the complaint are alleged statements describing tribal people as "bloody backwards," claiming "ST people have got no brain," and referring to people from Lahaul-Spiti as "Lahaul ke kutte."
The complaint also alleges that she ridiculed reservation benefits by suggesting tribal youth obtained government jobs through a "cakewalk" and were undeserving of them.
The Mahasangh has sought registration of an FIR under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(u) and 3(2)(vii) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act besides invoking Sections 196, 352 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly promoting enmity, intentionally insulting a community and making statements conducive to public mischief.
"Freedom of speech is not freedom to abuse an entire community," said Babu Ram Negi, Secretary of the Himalaya Janjatiya Lok Adhikar Mahasangh, Solan.
"The Scheduled Tribe community has constitutional protection and social dignity. No individual, however influential on social media, has the right to demean our people with casteist slurs and hate-filled language. We have demanded immediate registration of an FIR so that a strong message goes out that such conduct will not be tolerated."
Negi said the issue was not about criticism of an individual or institution but about "targeting an entire tribal community with abusive and derogatory language." He added that the Mahasangh would continue pursuing the matter until appropriate legal action is initiated.
The controversy has once again reignited debate over the conduct of self-proclaimed influencers and online anchors who, in the race for clicks, followers and viral content, are increasingly being accused of disregarding legal and ethical boundaries.
Legal experts note that social media popularity does not place anyone above the law, particularly when online content allegedly targets protected communities on the basis of caste or ethnicity.
The Mahasangh has urged the police to act swiftly, arguing that failure to take action could embolden others to use digital platforms for spreading caste-based hatred and deepen social divisions.
Police had not officially confirmed registration of an FIR till the filing of this report. The allegations in the complaint have not been adjudicated, and Yashika Thakur has not publicly responded to the allegations so far.
