An FIR has been lodged against Anil Soni, BJP OBC Front leader from Rasra, for making Islamophobic remarks on Facebook. Outraged Muslims demand his arrest and strict action
BALLIA — A local leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been booked for making deeply offensive and communal remarks about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Facebook, sparking widespread anger and protests among Muslims in Rasra city of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district.
Anil Soni, who serves as the Rasra Nagar Mandal president of the BJP’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) Front, is accused of uploading two separate posts on Thursday, both of which were seen as derogatory and insulting towards Islam.
The posts sparked widespread outrage, prompting locals to file a formal complaint that led to a police case.
The first post allegedly contained abusive language against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), while the second, as stated in the complaint, read: “Summer has arrived, drink sugarcane juice only after checking the Aadhar card…” — a comment perceived as targeting Muslims, according to the complainants.
Naeem Zafar, one of the main complainants, told reporters, “This is not just a post. This is an open attack on our faith. He has used filthy words for our Prophet and for Allah. We cannot stay silent.”
The complaint, jointly filed by Zafar and six other residents of Rasra, led to a named FIR being registered late Thursday at Rasra police station. Kotwali in-charge Vipin Singh confirmed that legal action was being taken. “A case has been registered and investigation is on,” he said.
On Friday morning, a large group of Muslims gathered at Gandhi Park in Rasra to register their protest. The crowd, holding placards and shouting slogans, demanded the immediate arrest of Anil Soni.
“Why is there silence when our Prophet is abused? Would there be the same silence if someone targeted another religion?” questioned 65-year-old Abdul Rauf, a retired teacher who joined the protest.
Another protester, Shoaib Qureshi, a local shopkeeper, said, “This is not the first time Muslims have been provoked. There seems to be a pattern. If the BJP claims to stand for all, then they must act against their own leader.”
Amid the backlash, the BJP Backward Class Front’s district president Arjun Chauhan attempted to control the damage, saying that Anil Soni’s views were his own and not those of the party.
“These are his personal views. The party has nothing to do with such statements. Let the law take its course,” Chauhan told the press.
However, many in the Muslim community believe that distancing from the comments is not enough. “Will BJP expel him? Or is silence the message?” asked Javed Ansari, a madrasa teacher from the area.
There is increasing pressure on the police to act promptly and fairly. “Law must be the same for everyone. If a Muslim had written such a post about another religion, he would be in jail within hours,” said advocate Shahnawaz Alam, who is offering legal support to the complainants.
The police, however, claim they are not under any political pressure. “The investigation is being carried out as per the law. No one is above the law,” said an officer who did not wish to be named.
Community leaders have urged the district administration to prevent communal tension in the city. They have also asked for a public apology from the accused and demanded his arrest under strong sections of law.
“This is not just about faith. It is about dignity and respect. When someone insults what we hold sacred, we expect justice, not delay,” said Maulana Imran Siddiqui, a local cleric who addressed the crowd at Gandhi Park.
To avoid any escalation, local peace committees and elders from both communities have been roped in by the administration. Police presence has been increased in sensitive areas of Rasra.
Ballia District Magistrate Ritu Suhas said in a statement, “We appeal to all communities to maintain peace. The law will take its course. No one will be spared if found guilty.”
As Rasra simmers with hurt and anger, the case against Anil Soni has once again raised questions about the rising communal tone in political discourse. For the Muslims of Rasra, this is not merely a Facebook post — it is a public wound that needs both justice and healing.
