Prophet Remark Row: Massive Protests in Delhi, UP, Telangana, Bengal Post Friday Prayers | Top Updates

People from the Muslim community protested against controversial remarks by two now-suspended BJP leaders about Prophet Mohammad, in Hyderabad on June 10. (Image: PTI)

Outside Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid, scores of people, carrying placards, shouted slogans against Nupur Sharma

News18.com New Delhi
Last Updated:June 10, 2022, 16:11 IST
FOLLOW US ON:

News Desk

Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal on Friday witnessed massive protests over now-suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad where demonstrators demanded her arrest.

The BJP on June 5 suspended Sharma and expelled its Delhi unit media head Naveen Kumar Jindal as the row over their alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad escalated with protests from some Muslim countries. Delhi Police had provided security to Sharma and her family after an FIR was registered on a complaint that she was getting death threats over her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad. She had requested the police to provide security citing harassment and threats she had been receiving.

Here's a list of states that witnessed a stir over the controversial remark on Prophet Mohammad recently:

Delhi: Outside Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid, scores of people, carrying placards, shouted slogans against Sharma. A senior police officer said that while some of the demonstrators left the site after some time, others continued to protest.

Shahi Imam Bukhari of Jama Masjid has told CNN-News18 that there was no call to protests from the Masjid committee and demonstrations erupted suddenly. "We need to maintain peace. This was a sudden protest. Slogans were raised. Those behind the protest are not known yet. There was no call of protests by Jama Masjid," he said.

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, and filed a separate case against Sharma for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments.

The two FIRs were registered on Wednesday after a social media analysis, they had said.

West Bengal: Protesters clashed with police, who tried to remove road blocks and opened lathi-charged on them, in Uluberia in Howrah district. At least 10 protestors have been arrested and IG South Bengal rushed to the spot with a large contingent of police force.

Demonstrators have kept NH-16 blocked at multiple places and have also blocked railway tracks at the neighborhood Chengail station.

Uttar Pradesh: Protests broke out at several places in the state after the Friday prayers. A senior official at the Uttar Pradesh Police headquarters in Lucknow said sloganeering took place in Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, and Lucknow.

People raised slogans and pelted stones in the Atala area of Prayagraj after the Friday prayers ended. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure law and order. Senior police and administrative officials have also reached the spot. Additional Director General (Law and Order) Parashant Kumar said, "The reports of stone-pelting in Prayagraj are being looked into." He said Friday prayers were held peacefully in most places across the state.

Lucknow Police Commissoner Piyush Mordia has appealed to people to maintain law and order. "There is an alert in the state. CM Yogi Adityanath is looking into the matter. We are touch in with the Maulanas. We did a flag march and are keeping a tight security across the state. We would request the people of Lucknow to maintain law and order in the state," he said.

This comes following clashes last week in Kanpur over the remarks on the Prophet at a TV debate some days earlier. A high alert was issued across the state after that, and a heavy police force was deployed to ensure that violence does not occur again.

Telangana: Protests erupted outside Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad over the same issue. Later, with the intervention of the police, protesters were dispersed from the spot. Police force and CRPF deployed in the area now.

Karnataka: Miscreants hanged an effigy of Sharma from an electric wire resembling a public execution near a mosque on Fort Road in Belagavi, police said. As the issue triggered a public outrage, police along with the city municipal corporation removed it quickly, they added.

The police have registered a case against unknown miscreants for spreading enmity between communities and disturbing peace in the society.

(with inputs from PTI)

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News and IPL 2022 Live Updates here.