Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi has sharply criticised the Uttar Pradesh government following violent clashes in Bareilly linked to the ‘I Love Muhammad’ slogan. He said that protests should not have taken place without prior permission and accused the state of failing to maintain law and order.
Clashes erupted in Bareilly’s Kotwali area on Friday when a crowd carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters gathered outside a mosque after a demonstration announced by cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan was cancelled. The situation escalated into violence, prompting a strong police crackdown.
Speaking to reporters, Azmi said, “The issue began on Eid when people raised the slogan and cases were filed. But coming onto the streets without permission is not right. There is a jungle raj in Uttar Pradesh, no law and order. A permission should have been taken.”
He also urged that those raising the slogan should embody the Prophet’s teachings. “Those who say I love Muhammad, tell them to follow the path shown by the Prophet. Become such an example that the world itself starts saying I love Muhammad,” Azmi said.
The Samajwadi Party leader condemned the police action against protestors, calling it excessive. He argued that the arrest of cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, was too severe. Police detained Khan and seven others, while over two dozen people were taken into custody during overnight raids. Authorities said they were tracking more than 500 suspects using CCTV footage.
Azmi said the use of force was unnecessary. “If you think something illegal is happening, you could have arrested them or used water cannons. The beating of protestors and the way posters fell to the ground was wrong.”
