Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has condemned the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Uttar Pradesh police against over 20 Muslim men, allegedly over an “I Love Muhammad” banner.
The FIR was lodged in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district over the banner, which was on display during the recently concluded Milad-un-Nabi procession.
Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger of Allah in Islam.
Taking to X, Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the FIR by sharing a poetic verse from “Tum par main laakh jaan se qurbaan ya Rasool”, an expression of love and reverence for Prophet Muhammad, composed by Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
“तुम पर मैं लाख जान से क़ुर्बान या-रसूल
बर आएँ मेरे दिल के भी अरमान या-रसूल
क्यों दिल से मैं फ़िदा न करूँ जान या-रसूल
रहते हैं इस में आप के अरमान या-रसूल”
“O Messenger, I would gladly lay down my life a hundred thousand times for you.
May the wishes of my heart be fulfilled, O Messenger.
How could I not give my life from the heart, O Messenger,
When it lives only with longing for you, O Messenger.”
FIR lodged for erecting ‘I Love Muhammad’ banner
On September 4, during the procession in Syed Nagar, under Rawatpur police limits, the “I Love Muhammad” banner was installed on the public road, which is usually used for Ram Navami processions.
A few right-wing elements objected to the banner. According to advocate Mohammad Imran Khan, one person named Mohit Bajpayee demanded it be taken off immediately. “Mohit Bajpayee called the banner objectionable and a ‘new tradition.’ He staged a protest, leading to vandalism. He is a serial offender and is associated with Hindutva organisations,” he was quoted as saying by Maktoob Media.
On information, police reached the spot and after several hours, the banner was removed.
Although FIR was registered against Muslims, the police refused to file a complaint against the Hindutva members. “Our complaint was not registered. Those who were the victims are booked, and those who created the ruckus and communal tensions are roaming freely,” added Advocate Khan.
Banner against tradition: Kanpur police
Siasat.com spoke to the SHO of Rawatpur police, who said the banner was against “parampara (tradition)” and a “deliberate move to create communal disharmony.”
“They (Muslims) created a new parampara (tradition) by erecting the banner. Based on complaints by locals, we have registered FIR against nine people and 15 unidentified individuals. Investigations are underway,” the officer said.
When asked to explain what exactly the officer meant by ‘parampara,’ the latter replied, “This is the first time they erected such banners on a public road.”
The SHO also dismissed Manoj Bajpayee’s involvement. Further investigations are underway, he said.
| 
