Yogi Adityanath Warns Protesters After 'I Love Mohammad' Clash in UP:

Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh – A day after communal tensions flared in Bareilly following Friday prayers, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a strong warning to those involved in the violence over the controversial “I Love Mohammad” campaign. Speaking at a media event under the “Viksit UP” banner on Saturday (September 27), the Chief Minister directly addressed the unrest, declaring, “If you vandalise in the name of faith, attack pedestrians or police... then we won’t spare you. Chedhoge to chhodenge nahi, aur chhodenge nahi toh chhootoge bhi nahi (If you provoke us, we won’t spare you, and if we don’t spare you, you won’t escape).” Tensions erupted on Friday in Bareilly’s Kotwali area when a large crowd gathered outside a mosque, angry over the last-minute cancellation of a protest planned by cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, head of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council. The demonstration was part of the "I Love Mohammad" campaign — a public expression of devotion that has sparked backlash in some quarters. Police reported that the crowd turned violent after being denied permission for the protest. Clashes broke out, prompting security forces to respond with force to disperse the gathering. Several police personnel were injured, and property was damaged. Tauqeer Raza Khan, who allegedly incited the violence through inflammatory speeches, was arrested on Saturday. He has previously courted controversy for issuing provocative statements and mobilising large crowds under religious banners. Without naming Khan directly, CM Adityanath took a swipe at the cleric, saying, “Some people never leave their bad habits. For such people, denting-painting is needed. A Maulana forgot who is in power. He thought he could stop the administration with threats, but we showed him that neither curfew nor roadblock will be allowed.” He further asserted that Uttar Pradesh has moved on from its troubled past. “Before 2017, this was the norm in UP. But after 2017, we have not allowed even a single curfew,” he said, pointing to improved law and order as a cornerstone of the state’s development. The Chief Minister also questioned the motive behind the demonstrations, saying, “Faith is a matter of conscience, not public disruption. Blocking roads and clashing with police is not devotion — it’s an attack on the system.” The “I Love Mohammad” campaign first drew attention on September 4 during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur, where 24 people were booked for installing boards and erecting tents on public roads. Some Hindu groups objected, calling it a departure from tradition and an intentional provocation, especially since the setup was placed on a route commonly used during the Ram Navami procession. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Dinesh Tripathi explained that the installations were too close to a sensitive area, potentially causing tension during upcoming Hindu festivals. The controversy has since spread to other parts of Uttar Pradesh and even reached states like Uttarakhand and Karnataka, leading to further protests, arrests, and political statements. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has spoken out in defense of the campaign, arguing that saying “I Love Mohammad” is not a crime. “Why should expressing love for the Prophet be criminalized?” he questioned. As tensions continue to simmer, security has been heightened in sensitive areas across Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have appealed for calm, while reiterating that law and order will not be compromised, regardless of religious or political affiliation. With the festival season approaching, the state administration is on high alert to ensure peace and prevent any repeat of Friday’s violence.

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