Retired Bombay High Court judge B.G. Kolse Patil has once again stepped into national controversy. While speaking at a Sufi saints’ conference in Basavakalyan, Bidar district, an event organised by MLC Salim Ahmed and inaugurated by Karnataka’s Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, he used the gathering not for spiritual reflection but for an aggressive attack on Hindu identity.

During his address, he stated that “Hinduism was not a religion but merely a Persian word allegedly manipulated by Brahmins to enslave society.” His statement immediately drew sharp reactions, adding yet another chapter to his long history of provocative public remarks.

Kolse Patil’s speech did not stop at questioning the nature of Hinduism. He went further and blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for unrest across the country. He accused the RSS of being responsible for every riot, even including the 1984 Sikh riots, and said that ordinary people were too afraid to openly criticise the organisation. These claims caused widespread outrage, but they were consistent with the pattern he has followed for many years.

For a long time, Kolse Patil has positioned himself as an activist who speaks against what he describes as Brahmin dominance. His speeches often show Brahmins as the central villains in India’s history and portray the RSS as the root cause of nearly every modern conflict. Over the years, this narrative has become a defining feature of his public life, and his tone has steadily grown more confrontational and more extreme.

In 2016, he declared that Hindutva was only a deceptive front for something he described as “Brahmanism,” insisting that defeating the RSS was essential for India’s development. Such claims have become a trademark of his public persona, which many people today see as inflammatory, conspiratorial, and deeply offensive to large sections of Indian society.

His record becomes even more troubling when looking at his allegations about the RSS and foreign funding. At various public gatherings, he claimed that the organisation received support from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. He suggested that senior RSS leaders had been involved in a plot to destabilise India. These claims were made without evidence and in front of audiences that often included members of radical Islamist groups. This raised serious questions about the intention behind his speeches and the impact they might have on already tense social environments.

One of the darkest episodes linked to Kolse Patil occurred during the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. In January 2020, while speaking at a rally organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, he was captured on video urging Muslims to “hit the streets,” saying that violence was the only way to defeat the Modi government. He told the crowd that they must decide whether they want to “rot and die” or “fight and die.” He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as “dogs,” displaying a level of hostility that revealed the true nature of his activism.

His statements on the Citizenship Amendment Act added even more confusion during an already tense period. He falsely claimed that the law was created only to protect Hindus excluded from the NRC process in Assam. He also said that Muslims were being taken to detention centres and warned that more such centres awaited the rest of them. His speech came at a moment when several parts of India were witnessing violence, and many believe his words contributed directly to the increasing tension.

Kolse Patil’s name is also closely tied to the Elgar Parishad event of 2017, which preceded the Bhima Koregaon riots. Investigators later reported that the event functioned as a meeting ground for groups involved in Urban Naxal networks, with links to plans aimed at destabilising the state. He was identified as a key organiser and a primary ideological influence at the event. The fact that several individuals later arrested for plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister were associated with that gathering raised even more doubts about his role and intentions.

His public life has brought him legal trouble as well. In January, Pune Police booked him for spreading defamatory allegations about Veer Savarkar. He claimed that Savarkar had been convicted for rape in England and that he opposed India’s independence movement. These statements were found to be baseless and offensive to many who regard Savarkar as an important figure in the freedom struggle.

Adding to his controversies is a sexual harassment allegation made by a journalist who visited him at his residence for an interview. She said he made inappropriate comments about her clothing and suggested they should form a “friendship.” Such behaviour shocked many, especially given his background as a judge who once handled matters of justice and ethics.

His speech in Bidar continued the same pattern. He again referred to Brahmins as “cowards,” repeated his claim that the word “Hindu” is derogatory, and encouraged the audience, including religious figures, to openly challenge Hindu identity. This approach not only insulted the cultural and spiritual foundations valued by millions but also encouraged deeper division between communities.

Supporters of Kolse Patil often describe him as someone who fights caste inequality. However, his consistent behaviour points to something more serious. Over many years, he has delivered speeches that encourage hostility toward Hindus, spread misinformation, support radical voices, and incite crowds to disorder. His actions do not resemble constructive dissent. Instead, they stand as calculated attempts to damage India’s social balance and undermine its constitutional values.