New Delhi: Deepak Kumar, the Kotdwar-based gym owner who is popularly known as “Mohammad” Deepak, is looking to fight the alleged ‘rising hatred’ all over the country.

Deepak grabbed headlines after he, along with his friend Vijay Rawat, defended an elderly Muslim shopkeeper whom a group of Bajrang Dal workers were allegedly bullying over his shop’s name in January. Now, Deepak and Rawat are mulling to launch a yatra against alleged “rising hatred” to send a message of unity and humanity.

Deepak shared in a video on social media on Friday that people have showered him with immense love and support. Hence, he and Rawat are thinking of launching a nationwide yatra, the “Insaniyat Jodo Yatra” (Unite Humanity March), and asked for people’s opinion over it.

Rawat, who was standing beside him in the video, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the love that people had showed to them. He added that the proposed yatra would unite everyone and send message of humanity amid rising “hatred in the country.” He said that the march would spread love and compassion.

On January 26, the duo saved a shopkeeper in Kotdwar of Pauri Garhwal district. A group of Bajrang Dal men allegedly harassed him over the name of his shop, “Baba School Dress and Matching Centre”, objecting to the use of the word “Baba”. They claimed that it referred to Baba Sidhbali, a local deity associated with Hanuman, with the town having a famous temple.

Kumar, who stepped in to save the old man, identified himself as Mohammad Deepak when the Bajrang Dal members asked his name. A viral video of the incident on social media propelled Kumar to recognition as people began to hail him as Mohammad Deepak. However, protests by the Bajrang Dal workers have dented the membership of his gym and Kumar as also received numerous threats.