After Row Over "I Love Muhammad", "I Love Mahadev" Posters Surface In UP

The controversy surrounding religious posters has escalated in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi following weeks of debate over "I Love Muhammad" displays.

The dispute has expanded beyond Uttar Pradesh's borders.

Varanasi:

In response to the ongoing "I Love Muhammad" poster controversy, religious leaders in Varanasi have initiated a counter-campaign. On Tuesday, they marched through the streets carrying "I Love Mahadev" placards, describing their actions as necessary resistance against what they perceive as "provocative" attempts to disrupt communal harmony.

The initial controversy erupted earlier this month during Eid Milad-un-Nabi (Barawafat), which celebrates Prophet Muhammad's birth. On September 4, a lightboard displaying "I Love Muhammad" was installed along a procession route in Kanpur's Rawatpur neighborhood.

Hindu organizations objected to the display, arguing it was deliberately placed in a mixed-community area traditionally used for Hindu celebrations like Ram Navami. The situation intensified as both communities accused each other of provocative behavior—Hindus claiming their displays were damaged, while Muslims asserted they were merely expressing devotion to the Prophet.

The campaign gained significant momentum on social media platforms where hashtags like #ILoveMuhammad began trending widely. Users changed profile pictures and shared images featuring the slogan, while political figures joined the discourse. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi stated on social media that "saying I Love Muhammad is not a crime," citing constitutional protections under Article 25.

Tensions further escalated when footage emerged showing Nafees, an Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) leader, allegedly threatening Kanpur's Qila police station SHO Subhash Kumar during poster removal operations. In the video, Nafees is heard saying, "I told the inspector I would cut off his hand... I would have him stripped of his uniform." Police subsequently filed charges against him, with SP (City) Manush Pareek emphasizing that law and order violations would not be tolerated.

Varanasi Counterprotest

Hindu religious leaders organized a responsive demonstration in Varanasi, characterizing it as a symbolic reply. On Tuesday, religious figures proceeded through the city displaying posters and banners declaring "I Love Mahadev," referencing Lord Shiva.

The protest, headed by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Narendrananda, accused those behind the "I Love Muhammad" movement of attempting to "destroy the country under the guise of devotion." He and fellow leaders alleged conspiracies designed to destabilize governments and create societal divisions.

From Mumbai To Malvani

The controversy has spread beyond Uttar Pradesh. In Mumbai's predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Malvani, clerics and religious leaders visited the local police station this week to express concerns about the Kanpur incident. They accused authorities of discriminating against Muslims by removing their posters and filing FIRs, while permitting Hindu groups to conduct counter-campaigns.