The Crossbill News Desk
Communal tensions flared in parts of Uttar Pradesh over the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign, prompting political reactions and heavy police deployment across several districts.
Against this backdrop, the Congress on Sunday (September 28) underlined India’s syncretic cultural traditions and defended people’s right to express devotion to their faith.
Congress’ media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said that in a harmonious country that has seen the tradition of mystic saint Meerabai and Sufism, such “dwarfs” have come who see an enemy of our rich cultural tradition in a seven-year-old boy.
“They killed and then hung the body of a seven-year-old because he is from another religion. What harm could that seven-year-old cause to our cultural heritage,” Khera said in a video statement.
“You say in a market in Indore that Muslims should be pushed out. Our culture is so vast, and you find these working-class Muslims a danger. If someone says I love Muhammad, you have a problem with it. If that person loves his or her prophet, you should love that person,” he said.
The Congress leader added that people love their Gods and prophets, and they should.
“What is wrong with this? If these dwarfs would have been there, would this have become the cradle of civilisation, would this have been called the mother of civilisations,” Khera remarked, in an apparent swipe at the BJP.
“I can’t leave my culture and country in the hands of these dwarfs. I love Muhammad, I love Mahadev, I love Jesus Christ, I love Nanak Dev, I love India,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remained tense. Protests broke out in Bareilly after Friday prayers, spilling over into districts such as Barabanki, Mau and Muzaffarnagar.
Police conducted overnight raids, arresting Raza and several others in an effort to contain the unrest. Security forces were deployed in strength and social media activity was placed under strict watch.
In Barabanki’s Faizullaganj village, tempers rose further after a banner with the words ‘I Love Muhammad’ was allegedly brought down by a local watchman named Dhanni. CCTV footage reportedly captured him using a stick to topple the banner, following which members of one community gathered in protest. Soon, members of another community also assembled, heightening tensions in the village.
Police said Dhanni’s house was vandalised by some youths, with his wife alleging that intruders also stole belongings. Senior officers, including the additional superintendent of police and the circle officer, rushed to the spot along with reinforcements from multiple police stations to restore order.
“A dispute had arisen over the removal of a banner, but peace has now been restored at the scene,” Ajay Singh, the SP’s public relations officer told PTI.
Eight people were later arrested by police for taking out a procession after the incident in Faizullaganj.
Against this backdrop, the Congress on Sunday (September 28) underlined India’s syncretic cultural traditions and defended people’s right to express devotion to their faith.
Congress’ media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said that in a harmonious country that has seen the tradition of mystic saint Meerabai and Sufism, such “dwarfs” have come who see an enemy of our rich cultural tradition in a seven-year-old boy.
“They killed and then hung the body of a seven-year-old because he is from another religion. What harm could that seven-year-old cause to our cultural heritage,” Khera said in a video statement.
“You say in a market in Indore that Muslims should be pushed out. Our culture is so vast, and you find these working-class Muslims a danger. If someone says I love Muhammad, you have a problem with it. If that person loves his or her prophet, you should love that person,” he said.
The Congress leader added that people love their Gods and prophets, and they should.
“What is wrong with this? If these dwarfs would have been there, would this have become the cradle of civilisation, would this have been called the mother of civilisations,” Khera remarked, in an apparent swipe at the BJP.
“I can’t leave my culture and country in the hands of these dwarfs. I love Muhammad, I love Mahadev, I love Jesus Christ, I love Nanak Dev, I love India,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remained tense. Protests broke out in Bareilly after Friday prayers, spilling over into districts such as Barabanki, Mau and Muzaffarnagar.
Police conducted overnight raids, arresting Raza and several others in an effort to contain the unrest. Security forces were deployed in strength and social media activity was placed under strict watch.
In Barabanki’s Faizullaganj village, tempers rose further after a banner with the words ‘I Love Muhammad’ was allegedly brought down by a local watchman named Dhanni. CCTV footage reportedly captured him using a stick to topple the banner, following which members of one community gathered in protest. Soon, members of another community also assembled, heightening tensions in the village.
Police said Dhanni’s house was vandalised by some youths, with his wife alleging that intruders also stole belongings. Senior officers, including the additional superintendent of police and the circle officer, rushed to the spot along with reinforcements from multiple police stations to restore order.
“A dispute had arisen over the removal of a banner, but peace has now been restored at the scene,” Ajay Singh, the SP’s public relations officer told PTI.
Eight people were later arrested by police for taking out a procession after the incident in Faizullaganj.
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