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Ahilyanagar unrest comes as part of a wider “I Love Muhammad” controversy that began in Kanpur earlier this month.
‘I Love Muhammad’ Rangoli Triggers Clashes In Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar, 30 Detained (Photo: Screengrab from the clash video)
After Uttar Pradesh, tension gripped Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district on Sunday night after graffiti with the words “I love Muhammad” appeared on a roadside rangoli in the Miliwada area. A video of the graffiti went viral by morning, triggering protests that quickly escalated into violence and drawing state-wide attention to an already sensitive issue.
What happened in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar?
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Outrage spread rapidly after the graffiti was discovered, with Muslim youths blocking the busy Ahilyanagar–Sambhaji highway in protest. Locals filed a complaint at the nearby police station, leading to the registration of an FIR and the arrest of one person responsible for making the rangoli.
Despite this swift action, demonstrators refused to disperse and gathered in Kotla under the Tofkhana police station. Around 7 am, when police attempted to pacify the crowd, the protest turned violent with stone pelting reported. Officers responded with a mild lathicharge to restore order.
Ahilyanagar police later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control. Thirty people were detained, and a fresh FIR was registered in connection with the violence.
BJP claims conspiracy
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as a possible attempt to create social unrest. Speaking in Yavatmal on Monday, he said, “We will have to see if there is a conspiracy behind this. Everyone has the right to practice their religion, but it is wrong to create tension among people in this way. We also need to see who is trying to polarise us in the same way that was attempted during the Lok Sabha elections.”
The Ahilyanagar unrest comes as part of a wider “I Love Muhammad” controversy that began in Kanpur earlier this month during a Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession. A banner carrying the slogan sparked protests from Hindu groups who claimed it introduced a “new tradition” into religious processions. Although police did not register any case against the slogan itself, clashes broke out in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Bareilly and Barabanki. Similar demonstrations have since spread to Uttarakhand, Telangana and Maharashtra, with violence reported in Nagpur.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi defended the slogan on social media, arguing that saying “I love Muhammad” is not a crime and criticising police action. His remarks turned the issue into a national debate, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath framing the controversy as a clash between Hindutva and religious extremism.
Authorities on high alert
The Ahilyanagar incident adds to a chain of unrest linked to the campaign, leaving police across Maharashtra on alert to prevent further escalation. With social media fuelling tensions, authorities have urged calm while continuing investigations into whether the graffiti was part of a larger plan to incite communal discord.
September 29, 2025, 15:07 IST
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