‘I Love Muhammad’ row triggers protests across India: Why the controversy erupted?

The controversy started on September 4 during a Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession in Rawatpur, Kanpur

The ‘I Love Muhammad’ controversy – which started in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur -- has spiralled into widespread protests by members of the Muslim community across several states apart from Uttar Pradesh, including Uttarakhand, Telangana, and Maharashtra. From Bareilly and Lucknow to Kashipur and Hyderabad, rallies and processions have taken place, with some incidents resulting in clashes with police.

What is the ‘I Love Muhammad controversy’ and why has it led to unrest?

The controversy started on September 4 during a Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession in Rawatpur, Kanpur. A group allegedly installed “I Love Mohammad” banner along the procession route.

The move triggered objections from Hindu organisations, which termed it a “new trend” and alleged it was a deliberate provocation. Following this, the police reportedly intervened.

DCP Dinesh Tripathi told India Today that the government’s rules prohibit introducing new customs into religious processions.

FIRs add to trouble

Kanpur police, on September 9, registered cases against nine named and 15 unidentified persons for allegedly introducing a new custom during the Barawafat procession and disturbing communal harmony.

The case pointed to the removal of the traditional tent and placement of the banner at a new site, according to the India Today report.

The row gained wider attention after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in a social media post asserted that saying “I Love Muhammad” was not a crime. Tagging Kanpur police, he criticised their action, sparking broader debate.

However, Kanpur police clarified that no FIR was filed for the banner itself. The cases, they mentioned, relate to placing it at a new location and damaging another group’s posters.

Unnao to Gujarat: Protests reach different states

Apart from Kanpur, the issue has spread to different cities and states -- with many protesting against FIR on Muslims. For instance, in Unnao, youth organised processions holding ‘I Love Muhammad’ banners and chanting religious slogans. Eight FIRs and five arrests were made after clashes leading to stone-pelting at police personnel.

An altercation took place in Bareilly between the local residents and police over the removal of “I Love Muhammad” posters. Meanwhile, the Gujarat police reportedly arrested 17 people and registered cases against over 80 others for allegedly vandalising a police station in Godhra amid the protests.

Muslim women held a peaceful protest at Gate 4 of the Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow, raising slogans in support of Prophet Muhammad. In Kashipur of Uttarakahand, an unauthorised procession in the Ali Khan area led to clashes with police, stone-pelting, and damage to public property, the India Today report added.

Many people across the country have argued that taking down of the ‘I Love Muhammad’ signboards in the name of communal unrest is a sign of suppressing religious freedom of expression.