New Delhi: The ongoing controversy over “I Love Muhammad” placards in Uttar Pradesh has drawn sharp criticism from educationist and columnist Firoz Bakht Ahmed, who argues that the phrase is neither provocative nor divisive and must not be criminalised.
Ahmed said the three-word declaration is no different from saying “I love Lord Ram”, “I love Lord Jesus”, or “I love Guru Nanak”. According to him, treating such an expression as communal incitement undermines India’s ethos of pluralism. He stressed that faith is personal but acknowledged the need for regulation in public displays of religiosity, whether during Friday prayers on roads, Muharram processions, or Hindu festivals like Ram Navami and Dussehra.
He also noted that the phrase should ideally include “Peace Be Upon Him” after the Prophet’s name, in line with Islamic practice. Still, he questioned whether the intention behind the slogan was deliberately provocative or simply devotional.
Ahmed cited constitutional protections under Articles 25, 29, and 30, which secure the right to practice and express faith. He warned that arresting and booking people for peaceful devotion erodes trust in democratic institutions and undermines confidence in the law. Hundreds of people across states including Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra have faced police action over the slogan.
He urged the Muslim community to respond with calm and wisdom, avoiding violence that could play into the hands of those seeking to marginalise them. Respecting diversity and pluralism, he said, is essential for India’s progress as a nation.
