Mumbai: Widespread protests have erupted across various locations in Maharashtra, including Nagpur, Nanded, and Dhule, in response to inflammatory and hateful statements made against Muslims by certain political figures. Demonstrators, encompassing a broad coalition of community groups and political parties, are calling for immediate legal action against the accused.
According to Kashmir Media Service, large numbers of protesters, particularly in Nagpur’s Shaheen Bagh Maidan in Farooq Nagar, have organized sit-ins. Participants include members of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Reza Nizami Welfare, demanding the arrest of Ramagiri and MLA Nitish Rane for their derogatory remarks and threats against the Muslim community. These protests have drawn thousands from neighborhoods such as Jafar Nagar, Tika, Shanti Nagar, Bhaldarpura, Mominpura, and Taj Bagh Nagar.
During the protests, community scholars have expressed their refusal to tolerate disrespect towards the Holy Prophet, emphasizing the sentiment as a unanimous stance among Muslims. The demonstrators have urged the government to take decisive action against the provocateurs, seeking to hold Ramgiri and Nitish Rane accountable for their actions.
In Nanded, the Social Democratic Party of India led a protest in front of the District Collector’s office, while in Dhule’s Sherpur area, the Samajwadi Party has threatened a state-wide protest unless the police apprehend Ramagiri and Rane. Party leader Altaf Ameer Baig highlighted the urgency of the situation, indicating escalating tensions if the demands are not met.
These protests underscore a significant unrest within the state concerning the treatment of Muslim citizens and the perceived inaction against those inciting hatred.