A major controversy has erupted over a social media post by Supreme Court advocate and Congress leader Aarfa Khanam, who shared an Eid-ul-Adha greeting that has hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The now-deleted post featured an illustration of a young Muslim boy wearing a skullcap and leading a cow – for ritual sacrifice — a central practice of the Eid-ul-Adha festival in Islam.
Hindus start tagging Bar Council India Chairman @MishraManan01 & request to cancel the Practice licence of Adv Aarfa Khan @Adv_AarfaKhanam pic.twitter.com/yxRClfAjcK
— Vikram Pratap Singh (@VIKRAMPRATAPSIN) June 7, 2025
The image triggered a wave of backlash online, with the hashtag #ArrestAarfaKhanam surging to the top of trending topics on X (formerly Twitter) by the afternoon of 7 June 2025. The post was condemned by thousands of users who accused Khanam of insensitivity and deliberate provocation. The cow is sacred in Hinduism, and its depiction in the context of slaughter during a festival led to accusations that Khanam was “stoking communal tensions under the guise of festival greetings.”
Screenshots of the post continued to circulate widely even after Khanam deleted the original. Despite the removal, the controversy only escalated, with multiple complaints reportedly filed with local police in different jurisdictions. However, as of 9 June 2025 morning, no formal police action has been announced.
Apology Issued, But Questions Persist
In response to the growing uproar, Khanam issued a written apology on X and released a video message expressing regret. She added that she removed the post immediately upon realizing her “mistake,” insisting that her only intent was to convey Eid greetings and not to offend. “On the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, a post was shared from my x account, which had no intention of hurting the sentiments of any religion or community. However, if that post has caused any hurt — especially if it has offended the feelings of any member of the Hindu community — I sincerely apologize for it. I have complete respect for all religions and beliefs. As soon as I realized my mistake, I immediately removed it. My intention was only to share festival greetings, not to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Let us all come together to promote harmony, peace, and mutual respect.”
ईद-उल-अज़हा के अवसर पर मेरे साथ x अकाउंट से एक पोस्ट साझा हुई थी, जिसमें किसी भी धर्म या समुदाय की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँचाने का कोई उद्देश्य नहीं था। लेकिन अगर उस पोस्ट से किसी को ठेस पहुँची हो — विशेष रूप से हिन्दू समुदाय के किसी भी सदस्य की भावना आहत हुई हो — तो मैं उसके लिए दिल… pic.twitter.com/PZq4BNB4Y9
— Aarfa Khanam (@Adv_AarfaKhanam) June 7, 2025
Despite her ‘apology’, critics noted that Khanam reposted several comments that defended the original image and argued that it was not offensive. This dual stance — apologizing while simultaneously endorsing posts that dismissed the outrage — further fuelled the controversy, with many accusing her of insincerity.
Sharmistha Panoli Arrest
The incident has sparked calls for legal action under laws relating to the hurting of religious sentiments. Activists and social media users have cited the recent case of Sharmistha Panoli, a social media user who was arrested after posting content deemed offensive to Islamic beliefs. Despite her own apology, Panoli was taken into custody, leading many online to question what they call selective enforcement of the law.
“If an apology couldn’t save Sharmistha Panoli, why should it save Aarfa Khanam?” has become a widely echoed sentiment across social media platforms. The comparison has sharpened the debate over the double standards in legal and political treatment based on the individual’s religion or political affiliation.
Numerous voices have emerged alleging bias in legal responses, with users across political lines demanding impartial action regardless of the individual’s background. With the hashtag #ArrestAarfaKhanam surpassing over 500,000 posts in less than 24 hours, public pressure on law enforcement agencies is mounting. While multiple FIRs have reportedly been filed in various states, clarity on any investigation or legal proceedings against Khanam remains pending.
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