‘Protected Tricolour’: Rahul Gandhi Hails ‘Mohammad Deepak’ For Shielding Muslim Trader

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 12:37 IST

Rahul Gandhi said Deepak had protected the Tricolour and the Constitution and that there was no greater act of patriotism.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has praised Deepak Kumar, the gym owner in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, who shielded a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper during an altercation with a mob last month.

Gandhi said Deepak had protected the Tricolour and the Constitution and that there was no greater act of patriotism.

“Crores of people carry goodwill and love in their hearts, but fear too. Deepak has shown them a way with his courage. Those who try to scare society by spreading hatred are actually cowards. Don’t fear them, ever," Gandhi wrote in a post on X, sharing a video of his meeting with Deepak.

“Deepak has protected our Tricolour and Constitution. He faced hatred firmly and protected the vulnerable. There is no greater act of patriotism," he added.

Rahul spoke to Deepak and his family

Earlier, Deepak Kumar said Gandhi had called him and asked to meet him.

“Rahul Gandhi ji had called me to meet him. He spoke to my family and explained to me that there is no need to fear, you have not done anything wrong," Deepak said.

What happened in Uttarakhand?

Deepak made headlines last month when he confronted a mob pressuring a Muslim man to change his shop’s name. The shop is called Ahmed’s Baba School Dress & Matching Centre.

“My friends and I were celebrating Republic Day when we went to one of our friends’ shops. Some boys came to the shop and started misbehaving with the shopkeeper over the shop’s name. I asked them to stop misbehaving, but they replied that the word ‘Baba’ is only used for Sidhbali Baba, and for no one else, and that the shopkeeper would have to change the shop’s name. The shopkeeper refused, and the argument escalated into a communal issue," Deepak said.

He told ANI that the boys were from Bajrang Dal and that the shop belonged to a Muslim.

“So I said, ‘My name is Mohammed Deepak, what’s it to you?’ We don’t support any political party, but an ideology. Hanuman is an ideal for every gym member because he inspires hard work," he said.

Deepak’s confrontation with the mob led to protests. His gym membership dropped from 150 to 15 following the incident.

News india ‘Protected Tricolour’: Rahul Gandhi Hails ‘Mohammad Deepak’ For Shielding Muslim Trader

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