Hyderabad: A YouTuber named Shiva Reddy harassed a Muslim vendor from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, selling Kova Buns at Medaram Jatara, accusing him of ‘Food Jihad’, in a viral video.
The vendor identified as Shaik Shaiksha Vali, can be seen refuting the allegations by eating his own Kova Buns on camera.
In Telangana, a poor Muslim street vendor was harassed by Youtubers in the name of “food jihad.” These creators routinely target vulnerable vendors for views. Hello @revanth_anumula, will there be action against those spreading communal hatred? pic.twitter.com/UaRGum8AqQ
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 13, 2026
However, locals rallied around Vali and support also poured in from influencers and political parties, including the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). They slammed the YouTubers for exploiting a vendor for likes and views.
The group of YouTubers from an alleged ‘news channel’ approached Vali and began accusing him of ‘food jihad’. “There’s no manufacturing date or expiration date on this bread packet. I have dialed 100. Officials should answer for this,” a man named Balaji can be heard saying in the video.
In response, Vali stated that he works for another man, who gets him the ingredients. “I sell Kova Bun here. I don’t know where the bread gets made,” he said. The ‘journalists’ then began harassing the vendor for his Aadhar card to prove his identity and accused him of serving unsafe food at a cheap price.
Support from influencers, politicians:
In the aftermath of the incident, influencers and several people online condemned the YouTubers. An influencer visited Vali’s place of business and expressed his support.
Here’s a surprise. After a YouTuber’s video accusing a Muslim street vendor of “food jihad” went viral, several videos of locals coming out in his support are now circulating.
A fitting response to those who chase views by communalising, targeting and humiliating honest, poor… pic.twitter.com/DNxt930BFU— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 13, 2026
Locals said that they have been eating the Kova Bun for years and dismissed accusations of adulteration. “We have been living peacefully with each other for years. There’s no Hindu-Muslim here. We have been eating the Kova Bun since my childhood,” one resident said.
In a statement on X, TDP member Paritala Sreeram said, “Hunger has no caste, self-respect has no religion. Everyone has a responsibility to respect everyone who works hard and supports their family. It is cruel to drag the life of a poor small trader who sells a loaf of bread onto the road like this. Some people are doing such things for views and likes on YouTube.”
Influencers such as Shan Renjarla Rajesh and Dasaram Ashish Kumar also expressed support.