Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : A public display featuring a poster of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, became a flashpoint of controversy in Unnao, a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The poster, which also included prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad, was promptly removed following police intervention after it drew strong protests from right-wing Hindu organizations.
The incident unfolded when the large poster was erected on a hoarding at a major intersection in the city. It was put up by a local resident, Ishtiaq Hussain, to mark the death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, the display quickly caught the attention of local members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. Deeming the poster "objectionable," the groups organized a protest, arguing that publicly displaying a foreign religious and political leader was an attempt to disrupt communal harmony.
"This is a challenge to the Hindus of Unnao," stated VHP leader Vinay Prakash, framing the poster as a potential threat to local peace. The organizations swiftly submitted a formal complaint to the City Magistrate, demanding immediate action.
In response to the escalating situation, local police intervened. According to Ashutosh Kumar, the Circle Officer (CO) of the city, officers spoke with Ishtiaq Hussain, the individual responsible for the display. The police confirmed that the poster was taken down peacefully and with the consent of the person who had put it up, effectively defusing the immediate tension. The swift removal restored calm to the area, but the incident highlights the sensitive nature of religious and political symbols in the public sphere.
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