Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Rajkumar Bhati denies changing religion after Buddhist ceremony video
A viral video showed Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati reciting Buddhist vows at a ceremony in Delhi on October 20.
The event was held at Ambedkar Bhavan and organised by the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha.
The vows included rejecting belief in and worship of Hindu gods, prompting claims online that Bhati had left Hinduism.
Bhati denied converting, saying he was invited as the event’s chief guest and had no intention or need to change religion.
He said he respects Buddhism and the teachings of Gautama Buddha, while also attending events hosted by other religious communities.
The video prompted political criticism from BJP and RLD figures, who questioned the Samajwadi Party’s position.
The dispute centres on whether Bhati’s participation in reciting the vows meant he had changed his religion; he says it did not.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati denied changing religion after a video of him at a Buddhist ceremony circulated online.
Bhati said he attended the event in Delhi on 20 October as a guest of honour and took part in a ceremony that included Buddhist vows.
He said he respects Buddhism and the teachings of Gautama Buddha but has no need or intention to convert.
The video showed him reciting vows that include rejecting Hindu deities, prompting claims that he had left Hinduism.
Bhati accused the BJP’s IT cell of spreading misinformation, while BJP figures criticised the vows.
- Who
- Rajkumar Bhati, a Samajwadi Party spokesperson.
- What
- He denied claims that he had converted to Buddhism after a video showed him at a Buddhist ceremony.
- When
- The ceremony took place on 20 October 2026; Bhati issued his clarification on 21 October.
- Where
- Ambedkar Bhavan on Rani Jhansi Road in Delhi.
- Why
- The video showed Bhati reciting Buddhist vows that reject worship of Hindu deities, leading to claims that he had left Hinduism.
Rajkumar Bhati
BJP critics
Religious conversion
Rajkumar Bhati
Bhati said he had not left Hinduism and had no intention or need to convert.
BJP critics
BJP figures criticised the vows shown in the video and questioned the Samajwadi Party’s position.
Meaning of attending the ceremony
Rajkumar Bhati
Bhati said he attended as a guest of honour and respects people of all religions.
BJP critics
BJP figures described the vows as rejecting Hindu deities and challenged Bhati and his party over them.
Bhati attended a Buddhist ceremony at Ambedkar Bhavan in Delhi as a guest of honour and recited vows.
A video of Bhati reciting the vows circulated online, prompting claims that he had left Hinduism and converted to Buddhism.
Bhati denied converting and said he had no intention or need to change his religion.
- Person
- Rajkumar Bhati, Samajwadi Party spokesperson
- Event date
- 20 October 2026
- Venue
- Ambedkar Bhavan, Rani Jhansi Road, Delhi
- Event organiser
- Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha
- Clarification date
- 21 October 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I have neither any need to convert my religion nor any such intention.
I respect every religion, caste, class and community.
As elections approach, the reality of the Samajwadi Party, which pretends to be Hindu, is now before everyone!
Posts on X
कल 20 अक्टूबर को दिल्ली के रानी झांसी मार्ग स्थित अंबेडकर भवन में भारतीय बौद्ध महासभा द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रम में मैं मुख्य अतिथि के तौर पर सम्मिलित हुआ था । एक सच्चा समाजवादी होने के नाते मैं प्रत्येक धर्म, जाति, वर्ग और समुदाय का सम्मान करता हूं और जो भी अपने कार्यक्रम में