Tauqeer Raza arrested over ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign which led to violence in UP, sent to 14-day judicial custody
In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, police arrested Tauqeer Raza, a prominent local cleric and head of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, on Saturday. His arrest came after a video he shared supporting the “I Love Muhammad” campaign sparked a large crowd outside his home, creating tension in the area. Authorities acted quickly to control the situation, and Raza now faces 14 days in judicial custody. Officials continue to watch closely to keep things calm and prevent more unrest.
This followed Friday’s violence in Bareilly, where a procession with “I Love Muhammad” posters and placards ignored police orders to break up. Crowds marched through the streets toward Islamia Ground and Khalil School Chowk, chanting slogans like “Nara-e-Taqbeer.” When they didn’t disperse, officers used force to restore order. Thankfully, Saturday brought peace to the city, with no new incidents reported.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the chaos during a speech at the Viksit Uttar Pradesh Vision-2047 event in Lucknow. He issued a strong warning to anyone stirring up riots, saying the consequences would make future generations think twice about breaking the law. Yogi pointed out that a cleric in Bareilly had threatened to shut down the city after Friday prayers but forgot who’s in charge. “Our government won’t stand for blockades or curfews,” he declared. “We’ll teach a lesson that fixes those harmful habits.”
The CM took aim at past administrations, claiming they once invited rioters to the chief minister’s house and let mafias run districts like their personal fiefdoms. He described a “One District, One Mafia” system where strongmen controlled everything, destroying farms, selling jobs to young people, and running extortion rackets. “Their agents even auctioned government posts,” Yogi said. He added that his team has cracked down hard on these illegal practices, which is why critics are now protesting.
Yogi highlighted how festivals used to turn violent before 2017, but his government put an end to that. “Bad habits die hard, so we correct them firmly,” he noted, referencing the quick action in Bareilly. He also mentioned deploying bulldozers against those trying to divide communities along caste or religious lines. “We built them for corrupt leaders who exploit society,” the chief minister explained.
The “I Love Muhammad” controversy traces back to September 4 in Kanpur, during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession. That’s when someone put up an “I Love Muhammad” poster on a tent, drawing objections from local Hindu groups. Tensions boiled over as Hindus claimed their posters got torn down, while Muslims said they faced backlash for honoring the Prophet. The debate exploded on social media, with #ILoveMuhammad trending widely.
Weeks later, in Varanasi, religious leaders launched a counter-protest using “I Love Mahadev” placards. They called it a stand against what they saw as provocative moves threatening communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh.
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