"Should not have been an FIR": SP's Abu Asim Azmi on 'I love Muhammad' row

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 25 (ANI): Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi on Thursday slammed the FIR lodged against the 'I love Muhammad' row and emphasised that the FIR should not have been registered over this incident.
Speaking to mediapersons, Azmi asserted that the act of displaying such posters was not wrong. He also claimed that it is normal to display such posters during Eid.
"This is not wrong because all religions display such posters, but when Muslims do it, an FIR was lodged against them. When the FIR was filed, not only Muslims but also all secular people declared, 'I love Muhammad'. This caused a stir worldwide. So the government started all this and took action. I believe it is normal to display such posters during Eid, and there should not have been an FIR against it." said Azmi.
The Samajwadi leader also said that, irrespective of their religion, people tend to display posters of their God during their festivals.
"'I love Muhammad' was not written forcibly. Whenever there is a festival of any religion, whether Christian, Sikh, or Hindu, people display posters of their God. So, when Eid came, Muslims also put up posters with the slogan 'I love Muhammad,' asserted Azmi.
The controversy reportedly started on September 4 in Rawatpur, Kanpur, during the Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession, when a group displayed a banner reading 'I Love Muhammad' along the procession route, which led to objections from Hindu group.
Azmi also spoke about Shah Rukh Khan receiving the National Award and raised questions about the BJP's motives behind this decision, emphasising that regardless of their intentions, they would not be fulfilled. However, he also praised the actor, referring to him as the "Badshah" of the industry and noting that he is admired by people worldwide.
"Shah Rukh Khan is considered the 'Badshah' of the film industry, and people worldwide admire him. However, I believe that whether it is the BJP or Congress, those who award him with certain intentions in mind are unlikely to see their hopes fulfilled. Shah Rukh Khan will never politicise such matters, and I am not sure what the BJP's motives are behind awarding him. Nevertheless, if he receives a national award, it is his right... BJP do politics in everything... They give credit for everything to PM Modi..."
After over 30 years in the film industry, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finally received his first National Film Award for Best Actor. On Tuesday, SRK was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.
SRK received the award for his performance in Atlee's directorial 'Jawan', which was released in theatres in September 2023. He shares the National Film Award for Best Actor with Vikrant Massey, who got the honour for '12th Fail'. (ANI)