Protests in Aligarh Muslim University and Uttar Pradesh Demand Action Against Yati Narsinghanand's Controversial Remarks

Protests erupted across Uttar Pradesh on Monday, with demonstrators demanding the arrest of priest Yati Narsinghanand for his controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad. In Aligarh, students from the Muslim University marched peacefully, submitting a memorandum to district officials. They accused Narsinghanand of inciting communal tension through hate speeches and urged immediate legal action to maintain peace.

Protests and Arrests in Saharanpur

In Saharanpur, police arrested 13 individuals for stone pelting during a protest at the Sheikhpura Qadeem police post on Sunday. The protest was part of a larger demonstration against Narsinghanand's statements. Authorities have registered a case against 20 named individuals and are working to apprehend others involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, in Ghaziabad, four more people were taken into custody following violence outside the Dasna Devi temple on Friday night. The temple is led by Narsinghanand. Police reported that those arrested confessed to stone pelting during the unrest. Earlier, six individuals had been detained for their involvement in the same incident.

Political and Community Reactions

Lok Sabha MP Ruchi Veera visited Moradabad's collectorate with supporters, submitting a memorandum to the President demanding strict action against Narsinghanand. She questioned why Yogi Adityanath's zero-tolerance policy wasn't applied to the priest. Veera urged citizens to remain calm and uphold India's tradition of communal harmony.

In Bahraich, Jamiat Ulema representatives met with District Magistrate Monica Rani, calling for harsher legal measures against Narsinghanand. They argued that existing charges under Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were insufficient for his alleged hate speech, which they claimed aimed to defame Islam.

Community Efforts for Peace

Saharanpur's District Magistrate Manish Bansal and SSP Rohit Sajwan visited Sheikhpura Qadeem village, where they found the situation peaceful. Villagers expressed regret over the incident and pledged cooperation in apprehending remaining suspects. Authorities noted that the village had no history of violence.

In Meerut's Mundali area, protests also flared up with participants wielding sticks and chanting slogans. Police intervened to disperse the crowd amid reports of unrest. An FIR was filed against 30 named individuals and numerous unidentified persons, with some protesters taken into custody based on video evidence.

Counter-Protests by Hindu Organisations

Hindu groups organised marches supporting Narsinghanand, condemning what they termed as misrepresentation of his comments. They demanded action against those protesting against him. Meanwhile, multiple FIRs have been lodged against Narsinghanand himself, though his aides claim he is being held illegally—a claim denied by police.

The situation remains tense but under control as authorities continue efforts to maintain peace across affected regions.