RAMPUR: A massive procession of about two lakh Muslims, both Shias and Sunnis, hit the streets of Rampur on Monday as they were joined by thousands of clerics to protest remarks against Islam by Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari last week.

Protests against Tiwari, who has now been disowned by the Hindu Mahasabha, have been raging in many parts of UP.

Shops, schools and business establishments remained closed on Monday in Rampur as madrassas students and their teachers joined the agitation in large numbers. Many youth carrying flags and placards were seen on the streets, marching until evening though the protest had begun in the morning.

Earlier, district Imam Maulana Syed Khushnood Mian and district president of the Jamiat-Ulema-Hind, Maulana Javed Qasmi, had called for a protest at the Jama Masjid, Rampur Fort, Old Thesil, Chakhu Bazar, Shadab Market and Abbas Market.

After UP minister Azam Khan had recently asked why so many RSS pracharaks were unmarried, and then answered his own question by saying that they were “homosexuals”, Tiwari, claiming to be the working president of the Hindu Mahasabha, circulated a press note with disparaging statement against Islam. The note was circulated widely on social media, causing great ire.

Muslim-dominated west UP cities like Deoband, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Meerut, Amroha, Sambhal and Shamli have witnessed tension through most of last week over the remarks.

The Jamiaul Furqania and Madrassa Faiz-ul-Uloom, along with other religious seminaries, have also issued statements condemning Tiwari’s remarks.

Additional superintendent of police, Rampur, Mohammad Tariq said, “A large contingent of policemen have been deployed to prevent anything untoward.”

Tariq said Monday’s was a peaceful protest. Some effigies of Tiwari were burnt, but police have not registered any complaints against the protesters. Tiwari was earlier arrested by Lucknow police. That, however, protesters said, was not enough.

Qasmi told TOI, “A large number of Muslims, we would say about two lakh, gathered here for the protest. Arresting the man (Tiwari) will not solve the problem. It has become routine for anti-Islamic elements to hurt religious sentiments. The man must be booked under the National Security Act. If stringent action is not taken, we will hit the road on a regular basis.” Announcements about the procession had been made in mosques and madrassas three days in advance, asking the faithful to join the protest in large numbers. Messages of the protest were circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp.

Shia Jama Masjid Imam Maulana Ali Raza Bashtvi added, “This hate propaganda must end. Hindus and Muslims have lived in harmony in this country for centuries. President Pranab Mukherjee must step in and such acts should be made punishable – such remarks against any religion should be punished.” Since many of the students at local madrassas arrive from Bihar, West Bengal and even Nepal, there were among protesters people from across the country, and beyond.