Mumbai (Maharashtra): An FIR was registered on Tuesday against the woman who was seen holding a placard which read "Free Kashmir" at Gateway of India in Mumbai on Monday during a protest against the violent attack at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday.
The woman, identified as Mehek Prabhu, on Tuesday said that she was just demanding the lifting of restrictions in the new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and claimed her act has been "blown out of proportion".
The "Free Kashmir" placard, held aloft by the woman during the protest, had caught a lot of attention.
As it snowballed into controversy and triggered a war of words between the ruling and Opposition leaders, Prabhu, issued an apology, while Maharashtra government ordered a probe into her "antecedents".
"If by being naive in understanding the impact it would have and in the process create this stir, I apologise. I am an artist who believes in basic human compassion. Let the power of love overcome hate," she said.
A large number of students, common citizens and activists had taken part in the protest rally at the Gateway of India in south Mumbai on Monday.
In a video statement, Prabhus, a resident of Mumbai, said through the poster she was just highlighting the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been put under a slew of communication curbs post revocation of its special status by the Centre on August 5.
"In the last five months, the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been taken away. If we say they are 'ours', then we should treat them accordingly. They should get the basic rights that we are getting," she said.
"They should have the freedom of expression, and with that thought, I had raised the placard," she said.
As soon as Prabhus' photo went viral on social media, BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis objected to her "Free Kashmir" message.
In a late Monday night tweet, Fadnavis asked, "How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai."
Fadnavis sought to know what exactly was the protest about and if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will tolerate this "anti-India campaign right under his nose".
Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil accused Fadnavis of trying to confuse people by "decoding words" in a hateful manner.
"Devendraji, it's 'free Kashmir' from all discriminations, bans on cellular networks and central control. I can't believe a responsible leader like you is trying to confuse people by decoding words in such a hateful way. Is it losing power or losing self-control?" Patil tweeted.
Expressing her anguish over the way the message has been received in some quarters, Prabhus said she was just stressing on peace.
"I was quietly standing. Actually, there were flowers in my hand. It was meant to be offering peace. Let's make peace together. That was my only intention in holding that placard," she said.
But it has been "blown out of proportion" completely, she added.
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"And I do not understand why they are now calling me a member of some gang or some organisation and suggesting that I have been paid to stand there," Prabhus wondered.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the antecedents of the woman are being probed.
Talking to reporters, he said the woman's background is being verified.
"If she is involved in any anti-national activity, action would be taken against her," Deshmukh said.
