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Key Points

Congress MP Imran Masood found himself under house arrest just hours before his planned visit to Bareilly. The Uttar Pradesh Police deployed heavy security outside his Saharanpur residence to prevent his movement. Masood had organized a delegation to assess the situation following violent protests linked to the "I Love Muhammad" controversy. He strongly criticized what he called discriminatory enforcement of laws and selective targeting of Muslim community members.

Key Points: Congress MP Imran Masood House Arrested Before Bareilly Visit

  • Heavy police deployment outside Masood's residence prevents his Bareilly movement
  • Masood claims delegation planned to review ground situation with officials
  • Congress MP accuses government of discriminatory law enforcement
  • Violence erupted in Bareilly over "I Love Muhammad" poster protests
  • Masood questions police inaction during previous communal incidents
  • Muslim leaders urged to keep mosques free from protest activities
3 min read

Congress MP Imran Masood placed under house arrest ahead of Bareilly visit

UP Police places Congress MP Imran Masood under house arrest ahead of planned Bareilly delegation visit amid ongoing "I Love Muhammad" protest violence tensions.

"They lathi-charge us, use batons and bullets on us, which clearly shows that there are two laws in this country - Imran Masood"

Saharanpur, Oct 1

Congress MP Imran Masood was placed under house arrest by the Uttar Pradesh Police, hours before he was scheduled to leave for Bareilly on Wednesday, in the wake of violent protests linked to the 'I Love Muhammad' row.

A heavy police presence has been deployed outside his residence in Saharanpur since late Tuesday night to prevent his movement.

Masood, speaking to IANS, confirmed that he and his delegation had planned to visit Bareilly to review the situation on the ground.

"We had planned to go to Bareilly, and the entire delegation was on its way. There, we were supposed to meet the officials, the DIG and the ADG, and review the prevailing situation. We are guardians of peace and, under no circumstances, do we promote hatred," he said.

He added that the government's approach was "discriminatory".

"However, all the sides should understand the problem. Now, the country works by two types of laws, one for us and one for others," Masood stated.

The unrest in Bareilly broke out on September 26 when a large crowd carrying 'I Love Muhammad' posters gathered outside a mosque after cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan cancelled a planned demonstration.

The protest quickly spiralled into violence, prompting police to launch a crackdown.

Tauqeer Raza Khan, who heads the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, was arrested a day later on charges of instigating the violence and is currently in judicial custody.

Referring to Khan's arrest, Masood said, "This was bound to happen, but only with us. In Fatehpur, rioters were vandalising the mosque, breaking through barricades and entering, while the police watched on. What action did the police administration take at that time? What action was taken in the violence that erupted on the streets of Muzaffarnagar three months ago? What action was taken in the police station where we were only reciting the scriptures?"

He accused the police of selectively targeting Muslims.

"They lathi-charge us, use batons and bullets on us, which clearly shows that there are two laws in this country. Every Muslim in the country should understand this," he said.

"I request the responsible Muslims and Ulemas of the country to come forward and take the initiative to ensure that mosques are for prayers. Mosques should not be used in such a way that people come to pray and then start protesting with posters in hand, and all the worshippers become part of that crowd, and then the police use lathis and batons. The BJP's agenda will continue to strengthen in this way," Masood added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Why are religious slogans being used for protests? Mosques should be places of peace and prayer, not political platforms. Both sides need to show restraint. The common people suffer the most in these situations. 😔
A
Arjun K
The police action seems justified given the recent violence in Bareilly. Politicians visiting tense areas often escalate situations. Better to maintain peace than risk more clashes. UP Police is doing their duty.
S
Sarah B
As someone living in UP, I appreciate the police taking preventive measures. We've seen how quickly these situations can spiral out of control. Safety of all citizens should be the priority, not political visits.
V
Vikram M
While I understand the need for law and order, the selective application of laws is worrying. We need consistent enforcement regardless of community or political affiliation. This creates more division in society.
K
Kavya N
The 'I Love Muhammad' protest turning violent is unfortunate. Religious expressions should never lead to violence. All leaders should work toward harmony rather than making provocative statements. 🙏
M
Michael C
Respectfully, I think the MP's comments about "two laws" are unhelpful. The police arrested the cleric who instigated violence - that shows equal application of law. Let's focus on facts rather than rhetoric.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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