Protests erupt in Delhi and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in response to remarks made about the Prophet

Huge protests erupted in Delhi and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday in response to remarks made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her former colleague Naveen Kumar Jindal, who have yet to be arrested weeks after stoking a firestorm with remarks about Prophet Muhammad. Following Friday prayers, protests broke out outside the Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques.

On Thursday, police in Delhi announced that they had filed a complaint against Ms Sharma, Mr Jindal, and others for using social media to “incite people on divisive lines.” The move came after India’s ruling party’s spokespersons made remarks that were condemned by many Muslim-majority countries.

The demand for a boycott of Indian products in Gulf countries has grown, while the BJP has suspended its campaign. Mr Jindal was expelled from the organisation, and Ms Sharma asked its spokespeople to speak more responsibly in public. On the basis of “social media analysis against those attempting to disrupt public tranquillity & inciting people on divisive lines,” Delhi Police said they had filed two preliminary complaints, known as first information reports.

“One is against Ms Nupur Sharma, and the other is against multiple social media entities,” the department said on Twitter, without elaborating on the posts that sparked the complaint or the entities involved. “As notices are sent to social media intermediaries for details of those behind these accounts/entities, #DelhiPolice appeals to everyone to refrain from posting anything that may disrupt social and communal harmony,” reads the statement.

Ms Sharma said on Twitter on Sunday that her remark about the prophet was in response to “constant insult and disrespect” directed at a Hindu god during the TV debate, but that she had since withdrawn it.

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