‘BJP may reap benefit’: The politics behind ‘I ♥ Muhammad’ posters in Uttar Pradesh

The city of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh had to go three days without mobile internet after clashes between protestors and police on Friday. The unrest was sparked by a local cleric’s call for a protest to oppose police action against Muslims in Kanpur, supposedly for displaying a banner declaring “I Love Muhammad”.

Bareilly police say that no permission had been granted for such a protest and have so far arrested at least 55 people, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the cleric. On Saturday, Chief Minister Adityanath promised to teach Khan “a lesson that he would never forget”. The Hindutva leader also criticised “I Love Muhammad” posters.

“These fools don’t know that symbols of faith are meant to be respected, not loved,” he said on Sunday. “Some people are spreading anarchy in society by putting ‘I Love Muhammad’ placards in the hands of small children instead of giving them books on science and mathematics.”

Adityanath’s remarks point to how the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is using the controversy to whip up support for itself among Hindutva sympathisers. Bareilly’s residents allege that the cleric in the spotlight has helped the BJP in the past. A political analyst said the tumult over the posters was likely to help the BJP politically in Uttar Pradesh.

Kanpur to...

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