Rahul Meets Uttarakhand's 'Mohammad Deepak', Tells Him 'Will Take Membership in Your Gym'

The meeting was held at 10, Janpath, the residence of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress leader Vaibhav Walia, Kumar, his friend Vijay Rawat and others were present. Kumar also briefly met Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi spoke to Kumar’s wife over the phone.

In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi said, “Every human being is equal. This is Indianness, this is ‘mohabbat ki dukaan’. Meeting with brother Mohammad Deepak from Uttarakhand this same flame of unity and courage should burn in every Indian youth.”

Speaking to reporters, Kumar said Gandhi had invited him and appreciated his actions. “Rahul ji introduced me to Sonia ji and spoke with my wife over the phone. He told me that you have done a good job and that he will come to Kotdwar and take membership at my gym,” he said.

The incident that brought Kumar into focus occurred on January 26 when activists of the Bajrang Dal staged a protest outside a clothing store in Kotdwar, allegedly pressuring its 70-year-old owner, Vakil Ahmed, to change the shop’s name. Clashes reportedly broke out between the activists and Kumar, who intervened in support of the shopkeeper. A subsequent protest led to police intervention and the registration of three FIRs.

Police have maintained vigil in the area following reports of fresh tensions after a video, purportedly showing threats against Kumar, went viral.

Kumar, who runs The Hulk gym in Kotdwar, has stated that the controversy has affected his livelihood. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had described him as a hero fighting for the Constitution and humanity, while alleging that divisive forces were harming society and the economy.