A video showing a Christian pastor and his wife being harassed in Ghaziabad has sparked widespread outrage, with rights groups and church organisations calling the incident a clear case of intimidation and hate speech against a religious minority.
The viral video shows Sri Satyanisht Arya, also known as Sunnyur Rahman, confronting Pastor Raju Sadasivam and his wife in a public place. In the footage, Rahman is seen questioning their faith, making derogatory remarks about Christianity and recording the couple in an aggressive manner. The pastor and his wife appear visibly shaken as Rahman continues to accuse them of being involved in religious conversions, without presenting any evidence.
Church leaders and activists said the video reflects a disturbing pattern in which Christian pastors are increasingly stopped, filmed and publicly accused of forced conversions. “This is not free speech or debate. This is intimidation,” a church representative said, adding that such acts create fear among minority communities.
Following the circulation of the video, a complaint was registered at the Koramangala police station in Bengaluru after another clip showing Rahman making controversial remarks at what appeared to be a Christian prayer programme also went viral. Police clarified that Rahman is not from Karnataka and said a non cognisable report has been filed for further action.
Rahman, a Bangladeshi national, has a controversial background. He was earlier known as a self described atheist and blogger linked to Bangladesh’s Shahbag movement and had fled the country after attacks by extremists. After coming to India, he received support from rationalist and humanist groups in West Bengal, who viewed him as a victim of religious extremism.
However, over the years, Rahman has taken a sharp ideological turn. He renamed himself Sri Satyanisht Arya, publicly rejected atheism and aligned himself with Hindutva ideology. His social media content has increasingly featured communal rhetoric, with repeated attacks on Muslims, Christians and political leaders, along with the promotion of themes like ghar wapasi. Several rationalist groups that once supported him have since distanced themselves, accusing him of spreading communal polarisation and monetising hate.
The Ghaziabad incident is being seen as part of this broader pattern. Civil society members said the harassment of Pastor Sadasivam and his wife highlights a growing climate of hostility towards Christians, where individuals with online influence target minorities with little fear of consequences.
