Saharanpur, Oct 1 (NationPress) Congress MP Imran Masood has been put under house arrest by the Uttar Pradesh Police, just hours before he was set to travel to Bareilly on Wednesday, following violent protests associated with the 'I Love Muhammad' controversy. A significant police presence has been stationed outside his residence in Saharanpur since late Tuesday night to restrict his movement.

In a conversation with IANS, Masood confirmed that he and his team had intended to visit Bareilly to assess the situation on the ground. “We had planned to go to Bareilly, and the entire delegation was on its way. There, we were supposed to meet with the officials, the DIG, and the ADG, to evaluate the prevailing conditions. We are guardians of peace and, under no circumstances, do we promote hatred,” he stated.

Masood criticized the government’s approach as “discriminatory.”

“All parties should grasp the issue at hand. Currently, the country operates under two sets of laws: one for us and another for others,” Masood remarked.

The unrest in Bareilly ignited on September 26 when a large group displaying 'I Love Muhammad' posters congregated outside a mosque after cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan canceled a planned demonstration. The protest escalated into violence, prompting police intervention.

Tauqeer Raza Khan, leader of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, was arrested the following day on charges of inciting the violence and is presently in judicial custody.

Commenting on Khan's arrest, Masood noted, “This was bound to happen, but only to us. In Fatehpur, rioters were vandalizing the mosque, breaking through barricades while the police observed. What actions did the police take then? What measures were implemented after the violence in Muzaffarnagar three months ago? What happened at the police station where we were merely reciting scriptures?”

He accused the police of selectively targeting Muslims.

“They lathi-charge us, wield batons and bullets against us, clearly indicating that there are two laws in this country. Every Muslim should be aware of this,” he expressed.

“I urge responsible Muslims and Ulemas to step forward and ensure mosques remain places of worship. We should not allow them to be sites of protest with posters, turning worshippers into part of the crowd, which leads to police action. The BJP's agenda will only gain strength this way,” Masood concluded.