Nationwide protests erupt over swelling Prophet row
Thousands of people took part in largely peaceful protests that erupted across the country against inflammatory speeches made by now-removed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries, Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, against Prophet Mohammad.
Members of the muslim community came out on the streets in several cities of Uttar Prdaesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. While the demonstrations were peaceful at most places, sporadic incidents of stone pelting were reported from some cities in UP, and tyres were burnt in Kolkata, according to reports.
In the Capital, a massive peaceful protest and sloganeering was held at the Jama Masjid demanding arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid said no call for protest given by the mosque authorities. The initial protest had lasted for about half an hour, following which the protesters dispersed. They later gathered again.
The Delhi Police said legal action would be taken against the protesters as there was no permission for the stir at Jama Masjid. Central District DCP Shweta Chauhan said, “Almost 1,500 people had gathered in Jama Masjid for Friday prayers. After the prayers, nearly 300 people came out and started to protest over inflammatory remarks by Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal. Within 10-15 minutes, we managed to bring the situation under control. Protests were done on the street, without any permission so legal action will be taken.”
Protests were also held in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Deoband, Firozabad and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh over the issue. In Saharanpur, locals staged protest and tried to march towards the Ghantaghar after Friday prayers in the Nawabganj area. Police resorted to baton-charge
to disperse the crowd. The situation was tense, but under control at the moment.
Violent clashes had erupted a week ago in Kanpur after two groups protested over controversial speeches made by Sharma at a television debate. The remarks triggered a diplomatic row as countries in West and South-East Asia denounced them.
The BJP removed Sharma as a spokesperson and expelled Jindal following widespread anger. Kuwait, Qatar, and Iran have been among the countries that summoned Indian ambassadors to protest against the remarks.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath asked police to take strict action against troublemakers as stone-pelting broke out in various cities in the state. Senior officers were monitoring the situation from police headquarters.
In Ranchi, an agitation demanding Sharma’s arrest led to stone pelting, following which police baton-charged the protesters. Vehicles were torched and vandalised and stone-pelting occurred, leading to injuries, even among some policemen. Police fired in the air to control the crowd. The incident occurred post Friday prayers near Daily Market, where shopkeepers were observing a day-long bandh over the issue.
“Few policemen have been injured. We are looking into the situation. We are reinforcing deployment,” a senior police official told PTI.
Protests erupted at several places in Srinagar, including Lal Chowk, Batamaloo and Tengpora. Ludhiana’s Shahi Imam said after a protest call by the Ludhiana Jama Masjid, protests were held across Punjab demanding the arrest of the suspended BJP leaders.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said efforts are on defuse tension in Bhaderwah town, rocked by protests over the issue, and expressed confidence that the situation will return back to normal soon.
Tension mounted in Bhaderwah and some areas of Kishtwar over the controversial remarks against the Prophet, prompting authorities to impose a curfew and snap internet services.
Singh said people should behave responsibly and maintain communal harmony.
“We are holding talks with them (people). Additional director general of police (ADGP) and the divisional commissioner have been sent to that area. They are both in Bhaderwah. The situation is being watched. We will soon bring it to normalcy,” the J-K Police chief told reporters during a visit to Kathua to review arrangements with regard to the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.
In Navi Mumbai, women took out a rally against the controversial remarks, while a large number of people carried out a protest march in Solapur.
Hyderabad also witnessed massive protests in several areas, including outside Mecca Masjid, over the issue. Police and CRPF were deployed in the area. Agitations were also held in Rajasthan’s Tonk Sawai Madhopur.
In Maharashtra, Muslims staged protests in several cities, however, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, police said.
The protests were staged by various organizations following the Friday prayers after 3 pm, a police official said. In Panvel city in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, at least 3,000 protesters took out a protest march, seeking the arrest of Sharma and Jindal.
A delegation submitted a memorandum to Panvel tehsildar and the protest was over peacefully by 4pm, said a local police official.
A protest was also held at Shivaji Chowk in Vashi, where a delegation submitted their demands to the Vashi Police Station, he said.
Similar protest gatherings or marches were also held in Thane, Aurangabad, Solapur, Nandurbar, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Pune districts.
Everywhere, protestors shouted slogans and demanded registration of FIRs and arrest of Sharma and Jindal, police said.
Heavy police security was deployed at all protest venues but there was no untoward incident anywhere, officials said. State home minister Dilip Walse-Patil said the protests passed off peacefully as police handled the situation well.
Nobody should offend other people’s faith, he said.