During the festival, some people are trying to disrupt harmony. The “I Love Muhammad” controversy has now reached Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar. Here’s the full story…

In Ahilyanagar city’s Maliwada area, miscreants drew a rangoli on the ground with the words “I Love Prophet Muhammad,” leading to tension in the locality. Hundreds from the Muslim community gathered outside the Kotwali police station to lodge a complaint and later blocked the road in protest.

As the situation escalated, police carried out a mild lathi-charge to bring the crowd under control. One person has been arrested in connection with the rangoli incident, and security has been tightened as a precaution. Police have also appealed to citizens not to pay heed to rumors. However, even after news of the arrest, protestors continued blocking roads.

Ajit Pawar Faction’s Stand
Reacting to the lathi-charge issue, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Sangram Jagtap said, “Celebrating festivals is fine, but no side should put up provocative material. We see some boards which read: ‘Burn my house, no complaint; kill me, no revenge. But if anyone insults the honor of Prophet Muhammad, only swords will rise, no compromise.’ Raising swords is not permitted under the Constitution. Yet, such boards were put up even outside police stations. Why weren’t these boards removed? Who stopped their removal? Who called whom? These questions must be answered before the public.”

He further said, “The suspect was already detained by morning. After that, there was no need to block roads, jam the national highway from Pune to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, or manhandle the police. Such acts are wrong. I appeal to the people of Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar) to maintain peace.”

CM Devendra Fadnavis’ Reaction
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “I was traveling and don’t know the full details, but I want to say this: the way such boards are being put up, we must check if there is a conspiracy behind it. Is someone trying to disturb our social harmony? Just like the attempts at polarization during the Lok Sabha elections… this too must be probed. Everyone has the right to practice their faith, but if it creates social tension, it cannot be justified.”