Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on late Monday night detained Maulana Abdullah Salim, a cleric from Jokihat in Araria, Bihar in connection with alleged objectionable remarks made against the mother of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.According to sources, the STF team picked up Salim from Purnea and brought him to Uttar Pradesh for further legal proceedings.The action is linked to cases registered in UP over alleged derogatory remarks made by the cleric during a public gathering.Two FIRs were registered against Salim in UP, one in Monday at Nagar Kotwali police station of Bahraich district and another in Balrampur district.In Bahraich, district legal cell convenor of VHP and advocate Ajit Pratap Singh, alleged that the cleric made derogatory remarks about the UP CM’s mother, which later circulated widely through a viral video on social media.Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity), 299 (outraging religious feelings), and 353(1) (circulation of false information).This development followed an earlier FIR registered on March 7 in Balrampur on the complaint of BJP district president Ravi Mishra. In that case, police invoked provisions related to intentional insult and public mischief.The controversy began after a video clip from a religious gathering held during the month of Ramzan in Bihar went viral. In the purported video, the cleric is alleged to have used inappropriate language while referring to the Chief Minister’s mother.Protests and Political ReactionsThe remarks had triggered protests in several districts, including Balrampur, Basti, Sitapur, and Kanpur, where activists staged demonstrations and demanded strict action.BJP MLA Surendra Diler also wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police seeking stringent legal action, stating that the viral video could disturb communal harmony.Actor-turned-MP Ravi Kishan had condemned the alleged remarks, saying that in Indian culture, a mother holds the highest respect and such statements are unacceptable.VHP leaders had termed the speech provocative and capable of disturbing communal peace and had demanded strict legal action, including consideration under the National Security Act (NSA), and sought a ban on the cleric’s public speeches.Who is cleric Salim?Maulana Abdullah Salim Chaturvedi, an Islamic preacher from Bihar who come into the spotlight, is known both for his religious oratory and his involvement in state politics.Salim is regarded as an influential Islamic speaker, particularly noted for his powerful and engaging speeches. What sets him apart is his distinctive style of incorporating references not only from the Quran but also from Hindu scriptures such as the Gita and the Ramayana, reflecting a cross-religious narrative in his addresses.
