A massive demonstration against France President Emmanuel Macron in Bhopal on Thursday has attracted the displeasure of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Chouhan tweeted on Friday, “Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace. We will deal with everyone trying to disturb this peace very strictly.”
The chief minister quoted a video news of the protest in Bhopal in his tweet. “Case is being registered under section 188 IPC in this matter (the demonstration). None of the guilty will be spared, whosoever it is,” he added.
The demonstration in Bhopal at Iqbal Maidan, wherein hundreds of people participated raising black flags and holding placards to denounce the French president and his actions, was led by the Congress MLA from Bhopal (central) Arif Masood.
The demonstrators decried the alleged insult of Prophet Muhammad in France and demanded an apology from Macron. The national flag of France was also burnt during the protest.
However, the gathering of hundreds of people, many of whom were not wearing masks, and the fact that the demonstration in the heart of the old city caused traffic snarls led the Talaiya police station to register a case against Masood and about 400 more up to now.
Police officials have said that more protesters are being identified and action will be initiated against them. With the chief minister expressing displeasure, swifter action is expected.
The protests are in the backdrop of Macron’s stand after cartoons of Prophet Muhammad were carried in a magazine and put up on government buildings. Masood said that hundreds of members of the Muslim community have registered protest at the French president using an offensive term for the Prophet.
The situation flared up in France following the killing of a teacher who allegedly showed the cartoon of the Prophet to his class. President Macron has publicly spoken of action against ‘Islamic separatists’ and also initiated action against some extremist organisations.
