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18 days ago
‘Mohammad’ Deepak, who defended Muslim shopkeeper, meets Rahul Gandhi: ‘Will take membership in my g
Summary
Nearly a month after he confronted a mob threatening a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal, Deepak Kumar met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Monday, who assured him that he would soon visit his gym.
On January 26, Deepak, 38, stood up to a group of men who were harassing the Muslim shopkeeper, who has Parkinson’s disease, to drop the word “Baba” from his shop’s name in Kotdwar town. During the confrontation, when asked his name, he told the crowd it was Mohammad Deepak. After the incident, the Hulk Gym, run by Deepak, saw its membership collapse from 150 to 15.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने उत्तराखंड के 'मोहम्मद दीपक' से मुलाकात की।
मोहम्मद दीपक ने एकता, भाईचारे और हिम्मत की वो मिसाल पेश की है- जो देश के हर युवा को अन्याय और नफरत के खिलाफ लड़ने का हौसला देगा।
दीपक 'मोहब्बत की दुकान' के योद्धा हैं- पूरे देश को इन पर गर्व है।
📍… pic.twitter.com/pxGkXZCVKI
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 23, 2026
Speaking to reporters after meeting Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Deepak said, “Rahul ji had called me, and he spoke to my family and me. Whatever has happened… He spoke to me about it and assured us. He has said I’ve done nothing wrong and that what I did was good. He has also said that he will visit Kotdwar and will take membership in my gym.”
Deepak said that Gandhi assured him and told him not to worry about anything. “He praised me for what I did… I will be very happy if Rahul ji comes to my gym and works out there.”
Deepak also said he has stopped receiving the threats he had been getting earlier.
He added that Rahul Gandhi also arranged for him to meet veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
After The Indian Express reported that Deepak’s gym had taken a hit, senior advocates of the Supreme Court stepped up to help sustain Deepak Kumar’s livelihood.
Asad Rehman is with the national bureau of The Indian Express and covers politics and policy focusing on religious minorities in India. A journalist for over eight years, Rehman moved to this role after covering Uttar Pradesh for five years for The Indian Express.
During his time in Uttar Pradesh, he covered politics, crime, health, and human rights among other issues. He did extensive ground reports and covered the protests against the new citizenship law during which many were killed in the state.
During the Covid pandemic, he did extensive ground reporting on the migration of workers from the metropolitan cities to villages in Uttar Pradesh. He has also covered some landmark litigations, including the Babri Masjid-Ram temple case and the ongoing Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute.
Prior to that, he worked on The Indian Express national desk for three years where he was a copy editor.
Rehman studied at La Martiniere, Lucknow and then went on to do a bachelor's degree in History from Ramjas College, Delhi University. He also has a Masters degree from the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia. ... Read More
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On January 26, Deepak, 38, stood up to a group of men who were harassing the Muslim shopkeeper, who has Parkinson’s disease, to drop the word “Baba” from his shop’s name in Kotdwar town. During the confrontation, when asked his name, he told the crowd it was Mohammad Deepak. After the incident, the Hulk Gym, run by Deepak, saw its membership collapse from 150 to 15.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने उत्तराखंड के 'मोहम्मद दीपक' से मुलाकात की।
मोहम्मद दीपक ने एकता, भाईचारे और हिम्मत की वो मिसाल पेश की है- जो देश के हर युवा को अन्याय और नफरत के खिलाफ लड़ने का हौसला देगा।
दीपक 'मोहब्बत की दुकान' के योद्धा हैं- पूरे देश को इन पर गर्व है।
📍… pic.twitter.com/pxGkXZCVKI
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 23, 2026
Speaking to reporters after meeting Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Deepak said, “Rahul ji had called me, and he spoke to my family and me. Whatever has happened… He spoke to me about it and assured us. He has said I’ve done nothing wrong and that what I did was good. He has also said that he will visit Kotdwar and will take membership in my gym.”
Deepak said that Gandhi assured him and told him not to worry about anything. “He praised me for what I did… I will be very happy if Rahul ji comes to my gym and works out there.”
Deepak also said he has stopped receiving the threats he had been getting earlier.
He added that Rahul Gandhi also arranged for him to meet veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
After The Indian Express reported that Deepak’s gym had taken a hit, senior advocates of the Supreme Court stepped up to help sustain Deepak Kumar’s livelihood.
Asad Rehman is with the national bureau of The Indian Express and covers politics and policy focusing on religious minorities in India. A journalist for over eight years, Rehman moved to this role after covering Uttar Pradesh for five years for The Indian Express.
During his time in Uttar Pradesh, he covered politics, crime, health, and human rights among other issues. He did extensive ground reports and covered the protests against the new citizenship law during which many were killed in the state.
During the Covid pandemic, he did extensive ground reporting on the migration of workers from the metropolitan cities to villages in Uttar Pradesh. He has also covered some landmark litigations, including the Babri Masjid-Ram temple case and the ongoing Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute.
Prior to that, he worked on The Indian Express national desk for three years where he was a copy editor.
Rehman studied at La Martiniere, Lucknow and then went on to do a bachelor's degree in History from Ramjas College, Delhi University. He also has a Masters degree from the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia. ... Read More
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
AI Description
The article highlights a significant act of bravery by Deepak Kumar, who defended a Muslim shopkeeper from harassment. This event has gained national attention and led to a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.