Protests erupted in several cities against incendiary remarks on the Prophet Muhammad by ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Demonstrations were held in Delhi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, among others.
This comes amid a chorus of criticism from the Islamic world even as the ruling BJP expelled its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and its Delhi spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal, over their remarks.
‘We have made it pretty clear that tweets and comments do not reflect views of the government,’ External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
In a statement, Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar said, ‘Under the Khuldabad police station, namaz had been completed peacefully. Everyone had returned home. It was 2 pm.
Some youngsters then came into lanes. We tried to make them understand. Some of them threw stones and bricks. For a while, we tried to make them understand in presence of several officials, including the DM.
Even after trying make them understand, they didnt listen. There were many minors among them. We used light force to disperse them. They returned home. Even after that because this is a majority area of a community, people kept coming in lanes and raising slogans. We used loudspeakers to make them understand. Our force was very patient. Some minor injuries have been sustained by the force. The situation is under control, but we are keeping a close watch.’
Protests also erupted outside Jama Masjid in New Delhi after the Friday prayers, as protesters demanded Sharma’s arrest. Scores of people, carrying placards, shouted slogans against Sharma.
A curfew was imposed in Ranchi after policemen were injured on Friday while trying to control an irate mob near Hanuman Temple, situated in the citys Main Road, as protests intensified.