Srinagar, Sept 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday strongly defended the use of the slogan ‘I Love Muhammad,’ saying that only people with a “bankrupt mentality” can oppose it. He argued that Muslims, like adherents of other faiths, have every right to express their love and reverence for their Prophet, and that no one should view the slogan as offensive.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said there was nothing wrong in writing or displaying the slogan. “If you go outside Kashmir, you will find our Hindu brothers and sisters portraying the images and slogans of their Bhagwans, and the same is done by our Sikh brothers in honour of their Gurus. When and how does it become wrong when Muslims express their faith by writing ‘I Love Muhammad’? It is bankruptcy of mentality to react in a negative manner,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister’s comments come amid a growing India wide controversy surrounding the slogan. The issue first came to prominence earlier this month during a Barawafat procession in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where participants displayed the slogan prominently. This immediately drew objections from some groups, leading to confrontations with the police.
Since then, protests, processions and counter-processions have been held across several Indian states, with Muslims openly rallying under the slogan to affirm their religious devotion. In some cases, the situation escalated into clashes with police, resulting in lathi charges, arrests and registration of FIRs. The matter has also spilled onto social media, where heated debates and polarised exchanges continue to trend daily.
Omar Abdullah criticised those who, according to him, were attempting to portray the slogan as provocative. “We must learn to respect each other’s religious sentiments. Just as we respect other communities when they display their faith publicly, we expect the same courtesy in return. The slogan ‘I Love Muhammad’ should be seen for what it is, an expression of love and respect by Muslims for their Prophet,” he said. [KNT]
