The ongoing I Love Mohammad controversy in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh has ignited a major political and social debate after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched a strong attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the ruling establishment of double standards in freedom of expression. According to Owaisi, while individuals can openly say ‘I Love Modi’, the moment someone raises a slogan like ‘I Love Mohammad’, it is treated as a threat and met with state action, which he claims reflects a dangerous shift in democratic balance.

Speaking at a public gathering in Hyderabad, Owaisi addressed the growing tension surrounding the Bareilly protest, which turned violent last week following processions carrying ‘I Love Mohammad’ placards. He questioned the direction in which India is heading, openly stating, “In this country, one can say ‘I love Modi’ but not ‘I love Mohammad’. Where are you taking this nation?”

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His remarks came amid heightened law and order concerns across Bareilly division, where the administration imposed a 48-hour internet suspension, shutting down mobile data as well as broadband services from October 2 to October 4. This move followed stone-pelting incidents that erupted outside Ala Hazrat Dargah and IMC leader Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan’s residence during Friday prayers and Dussehra festivities, forcing heavy police deployment in the region.

In a strong attack on government policy, Owaisi said that freedom of religious expression should be equal for all communities, warning that selective outrage and criminalisation of slogans would only widen social divisions. He reminded the audience that for 17 crore Muslims in India, reverence for Prophet Muhammad is central to their identity, and calling that into question is an attack on belief, not just expression.

While Owaisi urged restraint among his supporters, emphasising that “law should not be taken into one’s own hands”, he also criticised what he called the excessive legal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. According to Uttar Pradesh Police, 81 arrests have been made so far, including Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) National General Secretary Nafees Khan and his son Farman Khan, who allegedly managed IMC’s Facebook activities. Police officials claim that during interrogation, the arrested individuals admitted that “everyone was involved in the conspiracy”, suggesting organised mobilisation behind the protests.

However, Owaisi dismissed the conspiracy claims, arguing that raising a slogan of love for a religious figure does not constitute a crime, and if provocation is inferred only through selective interpretation, then justice becomes biased. He also referred to incidents in Assam, alleging that Muslim families were rendered homeless under the guise of encroachment removal, questioning whether law is applied fairly across all communities.

The I Love Mohammad row has now expanded beyond a local law-and-order issue and evolved into a larger debate on constitutional rights, state policing, and religious sensitivity. Owaisi’s statement has sparked intense reactions across political circles, with supporters arguing for equal expression rights and critics accusing him of fuelling communal sentiment.

As investigations into the Bareilly violence continue, the key question remains — can expressions of religious identity coexist peacefully in a diverse democracy, or is public display of devotion becoming a political flashpoint? With tensions still simmering, the situation in Bareilly serves as yet another reminder of how slogans and sentiments, when viewed through opposing ideological lenses, can quickly escalate into national debates on rights, identity and state response.

If you want a follow-up article on legal implications, historical background of religious expression laws, or reaction from BJP or UP Government, just say “Continue with next update” and I’ll proceed accordingly.

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