Hindu nationalist supporter Abhishek Thakur demanded the release of 14 cow vigilantes sentenced to life imprisonment in the mob lynching of a Muslim man. He claimed that Hindus have the name of “one father” on their identity documents, whereas “they” have “numerous fathers.” He alleged that the government remained in power because of Hindus and warned of a larger mobilisation if the vigilantes were not released, asserting that “this is India, not Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, or Syria.” He further glorified the cow vigilantes, asserting their place was “like lions in the jungle, not behind bars.”