In the latest twist to the “I Love Muhammad” controversy, a man in Maharashtra’s Beed allegedly threatened Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during an event.From the stage, the man said that if Yogi has the courage, he should come to Beed, and even threatened to kill him if he comes.

The “I Love Muhammad” controversy, which began in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has now spread to many other states, leading to protests and clashes in different parts of the country. Demonstrations have taken place not only in UP but also in Uttarakhand, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, with rallies being held in cities like Bareilly, Lucknow, Kashipur, and Hyderabad. In some places, these protests even turned violent, resulting in confrontations with the police.

What is the “I Love Muhammad” controversy

The issue started on September 4 during a Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession in Rawatpur, Kanpur. During the procession, a group reportedly installed a banner that read “I Love Muhammad.”  Some Hindu organisations objected to this, calling it a “new trend” and accusing the organisers of trying to provoke tensions. Police officers stepped in, saying that government rules do not allow new practices or customs to be introduced in traditional religious processions.

After this, on September 9, Kanpur police registered cases against nine people and 15 unidentified individuals for allegedly disturbing communal harmony. According to reports, the FIR was not directly about the banner but about changing the usual route and location of decorations, along with damaging posters put up by another group.

How the ‘I Love Muhammad’ row spread

The matter gained national attention after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi posted on social media, saying that declaring “I Love Muhammad” is not a crime. He tagged Kanpur police and strongly criticised their action, which sparked further debate. In response, police clarified that no FIR was filed simply for the banner itself.

Meanwhile, protests have erupted in several places. In Unnao, youths carried banners reading “I Love Muhammad” and clashed with police, leading to stone-pelting, FIRs, and arrests. In Bareilly, locals argued with police over the removal of posters. In Godhra, Gujarat, protests turned violent, and police arrested 17 people after a mob vandalised a police station. In Uttarakhand’s Kashipur, an unauthorised procession led to clashes, stone-pelting, and damage to public property. 

Women protesters in Lucknow also gathered peacefully near Vidhan Bhavan, raising slogans in support of Prophet Muhammad. Supporters of the movement argue that removing banners and registering FIRs in the name of maintaining law and order is unfair and amounts to suppressing religious freedom. The controversy, which began with a single banner in Kanpur, has now grown into a nationwide issue of faith, expression, and communal tension.