What's wrong with people expressing love for their prophet, God: Congress amid 'I Love Muhammad' row

New Delhi: Amid the row over the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign, the Congress on Sunday highlighted the syncretic cultural tradition of India and asserted that there is nothing wrong with people expressing love for their God and prophet.

Congress' media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said that in a harmonious country that has seen the tradition of mystic saint Meerabai and Sufism, such "dwarfs" have come who see an enemy of our rich cultural tradition in a seven-year-old boy.

"They killed and then hung the body of a seven-year-old because he is from another religion. What harm could that seven-year-old cause to our cultural heritage," Khera said in a video statement.

"You say in a market in Indore that Muslims should be pushed out. Our culture is so vast, and you find these working-class Muslims a danger. If someone says I love Muhammad, you have a problem with it. If that person loves his or her prophet, you should love that person," Khera said.

The Congress leader said people love their Gods and prophets, and they should.

"What is wrong with this? If these dwarfs would have been there, would this have become the cradle of civilisation, would this have been called the mother of civilisations," Khera said, in an apparent swipe at the BJP.

"I can't leave my culture and country in the hands of these dwarfs. I love Muhammad, I love Mahadev, I love Jesus Christ, I love Nanak Dev, I love India," he said.

Tensions erupted in several districts of Uttar Pradesh recently, including Barabanki, Mau and Muzaffarnagar, after violent protests in Bareilly over the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign after Friday prayers, with police carrying out overnight house-to-house raids to nab the "culprits", arresting Raza in the process.

Officials on Saturday said that security forces had been deployed in strength and social media was being closely monitored to keep the situation under control.

Following the clashes in Bareilly, tension prevailed in Faizullaganj village in Barabanki district, located adjacent to the state capital Lucknow, after a banner with the words 'I Love Muhammad' was torn down.

One side alleged that a local watchman named Dhanni broke the rope with a stick and brought down the banner. Following the incident, members of one community gathered at the scene and expressed their displeasure.

Members of the other community also began gathering, creating a tense atmosphere in the village.

The entire incident was recorded on a CCTV camera installed at a nearby mosque. The footage reportedly shows Dhanni using a stick to topple the banner. Police have seized the video and launched an investigation.

Dhanni's house was reportedly vandalised by some youths. Upon receiving the information, police swung into action.

The additional superintendent of police and the circle officer arrived at the scene, and cops from several police stations were called to the village.

Dhanni's wife alleged that some people broke into the house, vandalised it and stole their belongings.

Ajay Singh, the SP's public relations officer, said a dispute had arisen over the removal of a banner, but peace has now been restored at the scene.

Police in Barabanki arrested eight people for taking out a procession after the incident in Faizullaganj.