Huge protests have erupted in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur after Friday prayers over objectionable remarks made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The BJP later suspended Sharma from the party and expelled another spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal for a tweet against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Muslims staged protests against the objectionable remarks immediately after the Friday prayers outside Delhi’s Jama Masjid. Jama Masjid Imam said that the protest was spontaneous and no call was issued by him.
#WATCH People in large numbers protest at Delhi’s Jama Masjid over inflammatory remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal, earlier today
No call for protest given by Masjid, says Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. pic.twitter.com/Kysiz4SdxH
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022
“There was no call for protest from the Masjid committee. In fact, yesterday when people were planning to protest we clearly said to them that there is no call for the protest from Jama Masjid (Committee),” the Imam was quoted as saying.
The Delhi Police, according to ANI, said, “People protested at Jama Masjid against the statements of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal. We have removed the people from there. The situation is under control now.”
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Similar protests erupted in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Last Friday, Kanpur had witnessed communal clashes after the Friday prayers over the same issue.
As many as 15 Muslim countries had registered their official protests with India over the comments made by BJP office-bearers. This had prompted India to issue an assurance to these countries over the country’s resolve to respect religious pluralism.