Muslim woman who presented Lord Krishna painting to PM Modi now booked for rioting attempt charges

Thiruvananthapuram: A Muslim woman from Kerala known for paintings of Lord Krishna and who even gifted one to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now facing a case of attempting to cause a riot after she recorded a video of garlanding an idol of Lord Krishna in front of the famed Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple.

Jasna Salim, a native of Koyilandi in Kozhikode district, has landed in trouble for allegedly violating restrictions imposed by the Kerala High Court on recording videos at the 'nada pandal' (temple foyer).

Jasna recently recorded a video of putting a paper garland on the idol of Lord Krishna at the temple foyer. The temple authorities filed a police complaint against her, and based on that, the Guruvayur temple police registered the case for provocation with intent to cause a riot and contempt of court.

The HC had imposed the restrictions on videography at the temple foyer following a row over a video of a birthday cake-cutting posted by Jasna earlier.

Jasna, who has been doing Lord Krishna paintings over the last ten years, had been facing resistance both from hardcore Muslim and Hindu sections. Her paintings drew huge attention, and many temples, including the Guruvayur temple, have her paintings.

She could present a painting to the Prime Minister when he came down to the temple last year to attend Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi's daughter's marriage.

Modi had also tweeted a picture of receiving the painting from Jasna on social media and wrote, "At Guruvayur, I received a Bhagwan Shri Krishna painting from Jasna Salim Ji. Her journey in Krishna Bhakti is a testament to the transformative power of devotion. She has been offering paintings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna at Guruvayur for years, including on key festivals."

Jasna recently said in a social media post that even as the opportunity to present a painting to the Prime Minister was a turning point in her life, many BJP-RSS workers were attacking her afterwards and not allowing her to live. She also often came under criticism from hardcore Hindu activists for wearing her shawl over her head while at the Guruvayur temple foyer.

Jasna's fascination towards painting Lord Krishna pictures started around ten years back after she casually drew a picture seen on a piece of paper. As it came out well, and motivated by her husband, she started drawing more. Now she is getting orders even from foreign countries.