At the Bharatiya Sanatani Influencers Award 2026, held at the Thakur Shripriyakant Ji Temple to honour 100 social media influencers promoting Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma, religious narrator Devkinandan Thakur alleged that Hindus are victims of “jihad” and dismissed criticism of his rhetoric, stating that if speaking for Hindus, temples, and “raped daughters” is labelled “nafrat ka chandan” (the sandalwood of hate), he is willing to embody that “hate” for a hundred lifetimes. He boasted that protests led by him prevented a Bangladeshi cricketer from playing in India, mocked A.R. Rahman for complaining about a lack of work, and accused him of “shaming the country that feeds them.” He criticised convent schools and demanded the formation of a Sanatan Board to take temple and school funds out of government control, claiming this would ensure that “Hindus rule” their institutions. He said such a board would stop conversions, called for a ban on cow slaughter, demanded support for Krishna Janmabhoomi, described attendees as “pure Sanatanis,” and asserted that India would become a Sanatan nation and a Vishvaguru.