Don't quarrel with Hindus, police: Mosques & maulanas appeal for peace

MEERUT: “Even if they instigate you, let us not get violent. Our fight is not with our Hindu brothers or even with police. I urge my fellow Muslims to not fall into a trap. Stay away from fringe elements and mischief makers.

Our grudges are with our own government. Register them peacefully," said Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, an influential leader in Bareilly, from the Dargah-e-Ala-Hazrat to his followers after Friday prayers.

Muslim clerics and leaders across Uttar Pradesh have called for

peace

as the agitation over remarks made against

Prophet Mohammad

by two former spokespersons of the BJP threatened to spiral out of control in parts of the state.

Administration officers told TOI that the message for peace and brotherhood by mosques and maulanas, warning congregations against "those within looking to foment trouble", helped them keep the situation under check in many cities after the Friday prayers.

Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, national secretary, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, urged the people of his community to shun "fake messages and calls for bandhs and protests".

He said, "We are a peace loving people. We will never call for things like bandh or violence. We want to show our anger towards certain people but not at the cost of peace. Nothing should happen to anyone because of us.”

In Meerut, Shahr Quazi of Shahi Jama Masjid, professor Janus Sajjiddien Siddiqui urged people to remember the Constitution and "express feelings in a democratic way".

He said, “We are children of Allah. What we do will be seen as Allah's wisdom, and Allah has taught us values of brotherhood and harmony."