The controversy that began in Kanpur has now spread to other cities in the country, and the images coming from those places are concerning. The Muslim community is angry and protesting with signs that read ‘I LOVE MOHAMMAD.’ Such images have emerged from Lucknow, Kanpur, Kashipur, Latur, and Hyderabad, as well as Godhra in Gujarat and several other cities. During several protests, people have taken the law into their own hands, clashing with police officers, chasing them, and even tearing off their uniform stars.
On September 4th, a poster was put up in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, which read ‘I LOVE MOHAMMAD.’ It is reported that Hindu organizations protested against it, after which the UP police registered a case against 25 youths. This angered the Muslim community, and protests began in many cities. The question is whether these protests are happening under some conspiracy?
This dispute, which started in Kanpur, has spread to other cities in the country. Let’s start with Kashipur, a city in Uttarakhand. The atmosphere in Kashipur suddenly became uncontrollable. A procession without permission attempted to ignite the city in riots. There was stone-pelting, vandalism, and an attack on the police, but the rapid action of the police brought the situation under control in a few minutes. In the Alikhan area of Kashipur, some people suddenly started taking out a procession carrying banners that read ‘I Love Mohammad.’ There was no permission from the administration, nor did the police know. The crowd grew and the atmosphere became uncontrollable. The situation escalated to stone-pelting, pushing, and even a scuffle with the police.
The police say that 400 to 500 people were involved in the procession and inflammatory speeches were being made from the stage. When they were stopped, the crowd attacked the police and damaged government vehicles. After this, the bulldozer of the Dhami government also roared. Action was taken against encroachment in the place where the disturbance occurred.
Harrowing pictures came from Latur, Maharashtra. Here, a grand rally was taken out by the Muslim community, shouting slogans of ‘I Love Mohammad.’ This rally started from Azamganj Golai and reached the Town Hall. The atmosphere during the rally was fully charged. Muslim community members joined this procession in large numbers at various places, and the crowd swelled from thousands to lakhs. In this rally, people also raised slogans like ‘UP government murdabad (down with the UP government).’ Strict security arrangements were made by the administration. Police forces were deployed everywhere to control the crowd and prevent any untoward incident. This rally in Latur remained peaceful, but the atmosphere definitely seemed to be heating up with the slogans.
Religious slogans were also raised in a procession in Unnao, UP, late yesterday evening. During this, there was a clash between the police and the people. Slogans of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda (beheading for blasphemy)’ were raised in this procession, which worsened the atmosphere. The police also lathi-charged to disperse the crowd. Several police stations’ force and CO were deployed at the spot. The police say that the procession was taken out despite Section 144 being in place. The police have arrested 5 people in this case. After this incident, a meeting was held between the people of the Muslim community and police officers in the city. After this, the city Qazi has appealed to the people to do whatever they do within the limits of the law. Do not take out processions.
There are 3 sides to this whole dispute.
* The Muslim side says that ‘I love Mohammad.. ‘This is our faith, not a crime.’
* The Hindu side says that an ‘attempt to provoke was made by putting up banners.’
* While the police are saying that ‘the road belongs to everyone, permission is necessary.’
Politics is also happening on the whole dispute. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, in a post, tagged the ADG of Kanpur and wrote that it is not a crime to say I LOVE MOHAMMAD. If it is, then every punishment is acceptable. At the same time, MP from Nagina, Chandrashekhar Azad, has said that religious freedom has been given in Article 25-26, but still, people are being put in jail for saying I Love Mohammad.