Prophet remark row: VHP, Bajrang Dal demonstrate in Delhi against violent protest

PTI, Jun 16, 2022, 12:21 PM IST

The Vishva Hindu Parishad and its youth wing Bajrang Dal Thursday staged demonstrations here against the recent violence in parts of the country over the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by two now-removed BJP functionaries.

The VHP said the demonstrations have been organized outside at least 10 sub-divisional magistrates (SDM) offices in the national capital against the ”growing extremist incidents by Islamic Jihadi fundamentalists”.

The demonstrators have demanded strict action against those who ”instigated” people that led to violent protests after Friday prayers on June 10. The VHP-Bajrang Dal protestors outside the Nand Nagri’s SDM office raised slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, Vande Mataram and vowed ”attacks on Hindus will not be tolerated”. ”We have gathered here to protest against the last week’s protests across India by some elements. We demand strict against those who tried to instigate people,” Delhi VHP President Surendra Gupta said. The statements of former BJP office-bearers Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal on the Prophet Muhammad sparked a massive controversy which led to violent protests in several parts of the country. Asked whether the VHP supports Sharma’s statement, Gupta said, ”I don’t want to comment on that. We are here to protest against the last week’s violence.” Sharma was suspended by the BJP and Jindal was expelled from the party.