“Correct mistakes, fulfil promises, give due representation immediately”: State Muslim organisations
“Thinking of keeping our political options open is now growing within the community”
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Federation of Muslim Organisations has written a letter to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Dr Naseer Hussain, expressing strong objection to the way the party is treating Muslims in the state.
In the letter, the federation warned that “from the day it came to power, the Congress party has been neglecting the Muslim community which played a decisive role in bringing it to power. A question is troubling Muslims across the state — how can a party we supported so strongly treat us in this manner? A feeling is growing that supporting Congress unconditionally was a mistake. If this continues, the idea of keeping our political options open is now gaining strength within the community.”
The letter has been signed by several leaders and representatives, including Maulana Syed Tanveer Hashmi (Muslim Muttahida Council, Vijayapura), Dr Abdul Khadeer (Shaheen Group of Institutions), Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Nadvi (Welfare of Humanity Foundation, Bengaluru), K.S. Mohammed Masood (The Muslim Central Committee, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi), Maulana Iftikhar Ahmed Qasmi (Jamiatul Ulema Karnataka), Maulana Zulfiqar Raza Noori, Haji Mohammed Hanif, Mohammed Moula, Yaseen Malpe, Maulana Abdul Raqeeb Nadvi, Ashraf Ali Basheer, Dr Abdul Kareem Hubballi, K. Ashraf, Mohammed Hanif, Maulana Abdul Aziz Darimi, Haji Abubakkar Nejar, Mohammed Rafiq, Rafivuddin Kudroli, Kasim Shuaiburrahman Qureshi, Afzal Mahmood, Zakir Hussain Uchchil, Jabbar Kalaburagi, Nisar Ahmed, Naqwa Yahya Malpe, Afsar, Advocate Abdul Jabbar Gola, Advocate Anshad Palya, Haji Suleman Saheb, and Mujahid Pasha, among others.
What the letter says
The federation stated that the letter reflects the deep dissatisfaction among Muslim organisations across Karnataka over the conduct of the Congress government and party towards the community.
It said that in the 2023 Assembly elections, Muslims in Karnataka made a “model decision” by supporting Congress in the interest of upholding constitutional values and ensuring a secular government, despite having other political choices. This support, it said, helped Congress secure a strong majority and come to power.
However, the letter alleged that since assuming power, the party has continued to ignore the community that played a key role in its victory. It claimed that Muslims have not been given proper representation in the government, administration or key appointments, and that promises made to the community have not been fulfilled. Despite repeatedly bringing these concerns to the notice of the party and government, there has been no adequate response, it said.
The federation also expressed concern over recent developments, stating that the party’s “continuous neglect” has reached a new level. It alleged that discrimination against the Muslim community and unfair treatment have now become common.
It specifically referred to the ticket distribution and subsequent developments in the Davanagere South by-election, stating that the party’s actions have deeply hurt the Muslim community. “The manner in which the party behaved has raised serious questions among Muslims,” the letter said.
It further alleged that a rightful ticket was denied, and that while doing so, the legitimate demands of the community were completely ignored. It also claimed that the party leadership behaved as if seeking a ticket itself was a fault.
The letter added that after polling, the party acted in a manner that appeared hostile towards the community, including the sudden removal of senior Muslim leaders who had worked for the party for decades, without giving proper reasons or an opportunity for explanation. It described this as adding “insult to injury”.
The federation also pointed out that in the past, strong leaders from other communities who had worked against the party were not acted against, while strict action has now been taken swiftly against loyal Muslim leaders. This, it said, raises doubts about whether disciplinary action in the party is being applied selectively.
It also raised concerns that attempts may be underway within the party to pit Muslim leaders against each other.
“This is not about a few individuals, but about the dignity of the entire Muslim community,” the letter stated, adding that taking unilateral decisions without consulting religious and social leaders is not acceptable.
The federation criticised statements that Congress has provided the most “protection” to Muslims, stating that protection is a constitutional right of every citizen and not a favour by any party.
It said that a government must ensure proper political representation, fair share in power, participation in policy-making and fulfilment of promises made in election manifestos. Treating a community that voted overwhelmingly for the party as insignificant is unjust, the letter said.
Warning of political consequences, the federation stated that if Congress assumes that Muslims have no alternative, it could prove costly for the party in the future.
The letter urged the party and the government to immediately address the concerns of the Muslim community, correct their mistakes, fulfil promises made during the 2023 elections, and ensure adequate representation in key decision-making positions.
It also called on Congress to respond sensitively to the grievances of the community and take corrective steps without delay.
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2020 Delhi riots: SC dismisses Umar Khalid's plea seeking review of verdict denying him bail
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has dismissed activist Umar Khalid's plea seeking a review of a verdict denying him bail, while observing that there are reasonable grounds to believe the allegations levelled against him in connection with a conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria also rejected a plea seeking an oral hearing of the review petition.
"Having gone through the review petition and also the documents enclosed, we do not find any good ground and reason to review the judgment dated January 5, 2026. Accordingly, the review petition is dismissed," the bench said in its April 16 order.
According to the Supreme Court's rules, review petitions are considered by judges who delivered a judgment or passed an order in chambers to remedy an apparent error or a resultant grave injustice that was a consequence of an apex court decision. Parties seeking a review can request judges for an open-court hearing to rectify the grave injustice caused due to the decision under review.
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Besides Khalid, the top court had, on January 5, refused bail to Sharjeel Imam but granted it to five others, saying all the accused did not stand on the same footing.
Khalid and Imam, who have been incarcerated since 2020, can file fresh bail pleas after the examination of the protected witnesses or after a year from the day the order was passed, the court had said, as it rejected their contention of a delay in the trial.
There was a prima-facie case against Khalid and Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the top court had said, noting that prosecution material suggests that they were involved in the "planning, mobilisation and strategic direction" of the riots.
While the two will remain in jail, activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammad Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad were given bail by the court, which had imposed 11 conditions and said any misuse of liberty would lead to cancellation of bail.
The court had noted that the guarantee of liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution is of foundational importance, but at the same time, the security of a community, the integrity of a trial process and the preservation of public order are equally legitimate constitutional concerns.
Khalid and Imam stood on qualitatively-different footing as compared to the other accused, the court had said.
The prosecution had prima facie disclosed "a central and formative role" and "involvement in the level of planning, mobilisation and strategic direction extending beyond episodic and localised acts", the bench had said.
The February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi broke out during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leaving 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
The Delhi Police had arrested a total of 18 people in the conspiracy case. Of them, 11 have got bail so far.
The apex court's January order had said a delay in the trial does not operate as a "trump card" that automatically displaces statutory safeguards.
Imam was arrested on January 28, 2020, for speeches made during anti-CAA protests. He was later arrested in the larger conspiracy case in August 2020.
Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020, on the charge of delivering provocative speeches on February 24 and 25 when Donald Trump, in his first term as the president of the United States, was visiting India.
Strongly opposing the bail pleas, the Delhi Police had then contended that the riots were not spontaneous but an orchestrated, pre-planned and well-designed attack on India's sovereignty.
All seven accused were booked under the stringent anti-terror UAPA and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the riots.
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