Far-right monk Madhuram Sharan Shiva, leader of the armed monks’ group Shiva Shakti Akhada, at a Ramlila event, urged Hindus to arm themselves with real weapons and undergo training during religious festivals. He suggested that 18–19-year-old youths should train with weapons every night and claimed that Hindus have disappeared from nine states in the country. He called on attendees to raise strong fighters to protect their dharma.