Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Hate, Islamophobia and a Bounty: Why Was Bhardwaj ‘Swatantra’?
Swatantra Bhardwaj made videos and posts attacking protesters and Muslims.
He said he supported right-wing ideas and used the slogan Jai Shri Ram.
He also talked about using sticks against people at protests.
His posts included insults toward Muslims and calls to avoid Muslim-owned businesses.
After actor Swara Bhaskar spoke about jauhar and the film Padmaavat, he posted a video declaring a bounty on her.
Meta removed that video.
Bhardwaj then posted another video about the same issue.
The article questions why this behavior continued for so long.
Swatantra Bhardwaj repeatedly boasted online about using lathis against protesters in Delhi.
He said he would go to Jharkhand only under certain circumstances and described himself as right-wing.
His interviews and posts reportedly included Islamophobic remarks, calls to boycott Muslim businesses and slurs against Muslims.
Bhardwaj called the Muslim community “kachre ka dabba” and claimed Indian Muslims would support Iran in a war with India.
After Swara Bhaskar criticized the glorification of jauhar and the film Padmaavat, Bhardwaj posted a bounty threat against her; Meta removed one video, but he posted another.
- Who
- Swatantra Bhardwaj, Swara Bhaskar, and the Muslim community are central to the report.
- What
- Bhardwaj made repeated Islamophobic statements, promoted violence against protesters and posted a bounty threat against Swara Bhaskar.
- When
- The bounty post followed Swara Bhaskar’s recent remarks about jauhar and Padmaavat; the article does not provide specific dates.
- Where
- The remarks and threats appeared on social media and in online interviews; the discussion also references protests in Delhi and Jharkhand.
- Why
- The bounty post followed Bhaskar’s comments on the glorification of jauhar and the film Padmaavat.
- Person featured
- Swatantra Bhardwaj
- Reported conduct
- Repeated Islamophobic remarks, calls to boycott Muslim businesses and hateful slurs
- Protest comments
- Bhardwaj repeatedly boasted about using lathis against protesters in Delhi
- Target of bounty post
- Actor Swara Bhaskar
- Trigger for bounty post
- Bhaskar’s remarks about the glorification of jauhar and the film Padmaavat
- Platform action
- Meta removed one of Bhardwaj’s videos
- Follow-up
- Bhardwaj posted another video after the first was taken down