The violence that erupted after Friday prayers in Bareilly has shaken all of Uttar Pradesh. The discord, sparked by an 'I Love Muhammad' campaign poster outside a mosque, suddenly escalated into violent clashes. As chaos unfolded, stone-pelting, vandalism, and slogans from Khalil Tiraha to Islamia Maidan made the situation spiral out of control. A direct confrontation between police and protesters turned the streets into a battlefield.
In response to this violence, the police undertook major action by arresting Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan along with 39 others. Notable figures such as Sarfraz, Manifuddin, Azim Ahmed, Mohammad Sharif, Mohammad Amir, Rehan, and Mohammad Sarfraz have also been incarcerated. A case has been registered against 180 named and 2,500 unidentified individuals on serious charges of riot, vandalism, stone-pelting, and inciting religious sentiments.
District Magistrate Avinash Singh and SSP Anurag Arya declared the violence a premeditated conspiracy, noting it occurred despite the application of Indian Penal Code Section 163, which prohibits illegal assemblies. To prevent the situation from spiraling further, internet services in Bareilly were suspended for 48 hours. A ban on forwarding messages via social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube was already in place.
Source: aajtak
Who is Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan?
The arrest of Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan has drawn significant attention. A descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan, the founder of the Sunni Barelvi sect, he has been a prominent and controversial figure in Bareilly's religious-political climate. In 2001, he founded the Ittihad-e-Millat Council, marking his foray into politics. In 2009, he aligned with the Congress, and by 2012, he had shifted support to the Samajwadi Party.
His relationship with the Samajwadi Party soured following the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he appeared alongside the BSP. His name frequently surfaces in contexts of violence and controversy. During the 2010 Bareilly riots, he was accused of inciting mobs. He also faced accusations during the CAA-NRC protests of 2019-20, becoming vocal against the citizenship law.
Allegations of Bias Against Deobandi Ideology
He also garnered media attention for issuing a fatwa against Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. His journey on the religious stage has been no less tumultuous. After accusing the Deobandi ideology of prejudice, he parted ways with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to lead the 'Jadeed Board'. He was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Handloom Department under the SP government, but resigned post the 2013 riots.
In 2016, his attempts to unify Muslims at Deoband were harshly criticized by the Barelvi faction, prompting an apology. Just hours before his arrest following the Bareilly violence, Maulana released a video message saying, "If I'm shot, I'd welcome it." Yet despite his appeals to supporters, the administration detained him late in the night, presenting him in court the following morning.
Source: aajtak
Yogi Adityanath's Stern Warning
Meanwhile, some sections of civil society have questioned his arrest. The organization 'Citizens for Fraternity' has penned a letter to the Chief Minister, denouncing the actions as an assault on religious expression. On the other hand, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a stark warning that those disrupting peace during festivities will not be spared at any cost. He said, "Yesterday, a Maulana forgot who is in power."
CM Yogi dubbed the rioters as 'Chund-Mund'—a term from Hindu scriptures—and declared that Goddess Bhagwati destroys such elements. He made it clear that stringent action against those breaking the law will serve as a lesson for future generations. Although this unrest is gradually reaching other districts like Barabanki, Mau, and Varanasi, after Bareilly.
