SP MPs Stopped at Ghazipur Border Amid “I Love Mohammad” Row in Bareilly

An MP delegation from the Samajwadi Party, including Mohibbullah Nadvi, Iqra Hasan, and Harendra Singh Malik, was stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police at the Ghazipur border on Saturday while en route to Bareilly. The visit comes in the aftermath of last week’s “I Love Mohammad” poster controversy, which had sparked protests in the city.

Tensions Between Police and Delegation

Visuals from the scene showed SP delegation members arguing with police personnel deployed to maintain law and order. Speaking to us, SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi alleged, “We are being stopped from going to Bareilly. This is unconstitutional... The BJP government first oppresses people with great vengeance and then tries to cover it up.”

SP MP Iqra Hasan linked the action to an “undeclared emergency” and clarified that their visit had no political agenda. “We don't understand on what grounds we are being stopped in the way of an undeclared emergency. We request the administration to accompany us. We are not trying to hide anything. We don't have any agendas... I don't know which of its evil deeds the UP government wants to cover up that its not allowing us to go to Bareilly...”

Background of the Bareilly Row

The delegation’s planned visit comes after tensions erupted in Bareilly over “I Love Mohammad” posters displayed on September 26. Following the unrest:

• Mobile internet and broadband services were suspended in Bareilly from 3 pm on October 2 to 3 pm on October 4.

• Protesters had gathered outside Ala Hazrat Dargah and the residence of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, carrying placards.

• During Friday prayers, protesters pelted stones at police, prompting authorities to conduct flag marches in Kanpur to maintain peace.

So far, 81 arrests have been made in connection with the protests. Among them, IMC National General Secretary Nafees Khan and his son Farman Khan were recently detained. Police stated that Farman handled the IMC Facebook page, and both father and son admitted that “everyone was involved in the conspiracy.”

Religious Leaders Speak Out

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj criticised the controversy, calling the slogans “disrespectful to Mahadev” and alleging they were a deliberate attempt to distract the public from pressing issues. He said, “Is Mahadev a matter of worship or love? This is an insult to Mahadev... 'I love Mohammed, I love Mahadev' row has been started to distract the public from the real issues.”

The situation in Bareilly remains tense as authorities continue to monitor security and SP MPs demand permission to visit the city.