Even as the 'I Love Muhammad' poster campaign, which first began in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and gradually spread to other districts in the state and later to various parts across the nation, led to incidents of violence in some parts, a counter-campaign is gaining traction in Uttar Pradesh.
According to media reports, in response to the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign, an 'I Love Mahadev' campaign has been launched in various districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Narendrananda, who led a protest in Varanasi over the issue, claimed that those behind the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign are trying to destroy the country.
The campaign has also found traction on various social media platforms, with many professing their love for Lord Shiva and Lord Ram.
How did it all begin?
The controversy began on September 9 when police in Kanpur filed an FIR against nine named and 15 unidentified people for allegedly installing boards with 'I Love Mohammad' written on them on a public road in Kanpur during a Barawafat procession on September 4.
Hindu organisations objected the move, pointing out that it was an act of deliberate provocation.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's social media post asserting that saying 'I Love Muhammad' was not a crime attracted wider attention to the issue.
What began as a localised demonstration evolved into a widespread campaign, sparking protests, counter-slogans and even clashes. Over the last few days, clashes have been reported from various parts of the country, including Davangere in Karnataka. Communal tensions flared up after posters with messages ‘I love Mohammed’ cropped up in Davangere on Wednesday night, leading to stone pelting between two groups of people, according to police.
Meanwhile, posters that had 'I Love Muhammad' written on the were seen during the Shahdana Bali Urs procession in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
Trouble in Gujarat
According to a PTI report, a group of people belonging to the Muslim community damaged several shops and vehicles and hurled stones at a village in Gandhinagar district following a social media post on the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign.
On Wednesday, a large group broke the shutters of a shop belonging to the person who had put up a status on WhatsApp. They took out goods from his shop and burnt them, he said.
"The group later hurled stones at Hindu areas. In retaliation, stones were pelted at the group from Hindu areas," Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty told reporters.
"Four shops and five to six vehicles were damaged," Assistant Superintendent of Police Ayush Jain said.