'I Love Muhammad' row: AIMPLB condemns arrest of cleric, UP CM's 'threatening statements'
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign row, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of Bareilly cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan along with several others, the "threatening statements" issued by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the "vindictive" attitude of police.
The AIMPLB demanded an immediate and unconditional release of Khan and all those arrested. It also expressed grave concern over the "brutal" police action against peaceful demonstrations taking place across the state in response to the Kanpur incident.
The controversy erupted on September 9, when the police in Kanpur filed an FIR against 24 people for allegedly installing boards with 'I Love Muhammad' written on them during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession on September 4.
Clashes broke out in Bareilly on the afternoon of September 26 after a large crowd carrying 'I Love Muhammad' posters assembled outside a mosque in Kotwali area after Friday prayers.
In a major crackdown, the police arrested 39 people, including local cleric Khan, in connection with the violence. On Monday, they arrested 29 more people, including a close aide of Khan in connection with last week's violence.
Chief Minister Adityanath has warned of strict action against any attempt to disturb law and order. Security remains intensified in Bareilly and neighbouring districts, with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces in sensitive areas.
In a statement, the AIMPLB strongly condemned the arrest of Khan along with several others, the "threatening statements issued by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the vindictive attitude of the police".
AIMPLB spokesperson S Q R Ilyas expressed deep concern over the arrest of Khan and other "peaceful protesters".
He said that the "peaceful protest" by Muslims over the Kanpur incident is not a crime, and the "irresponsible and aggressive response of the police is a gross abuse of power and an act of extreme injustice".
The use of the slogan 'I Love Muhammad' or displaying it on a banner is neither illegal nor unconstitutional, Ilyas said.
"People of other faiths in India also express similar devotion towards their revered figures, and no police or administrative action is ever taken against them. Therefore, filing an FIR over the display of such a banner in Kanpur is deeply irresponsible and blatantly discriminatory," he alleged.
The spokesperson further said the "arrogant and authoritarian" language used by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh against Khan against the "peaceful protesters" in Bareilly is completely unbecoming of the office and dignity of the post.
"He (Adityanath) must remember that he is an elected chief minister under the Constitution of India, and not the leader of any particular community. He represents all citizens of the state, and, therefore, must refrain from using communal and biased language," Ilyas said.
He claimed that Khan is a respected and responsible leader of the community who had called for a "peaceful protest", which is fully in accordance with the Constitution and democratic rights of the citizens.
Protesting against any action of the government is a fundamental and constitutional right of every citizen, he said.
The AIMPLB demands that Khan and all others arrested in connection with such "peaceful protests" be released immediately and that all charges filed against them be withdrawn without delay, the statement said.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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