By Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi: In a major development, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, led by Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, has sent letters to BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding immediate disciplinary and legal action against BJP MLAs Nand Kishore Gurjar and Dr. Shalabh Mani Tripathi, as well as the controversial figure Yati Narsinghanand, for making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed.
At the heart of the controversy are MLAs Nand Kishore Gurjar from Ghaziabad and Dr. Shalabh Mani Tripathi from Deoria, UP whose recent statements have drawn fierce criticism from religious leaders and civil society alike. In response to these remarks, Mahmood Asad Madani has penned strongly worded letters to BJP President J.P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding immediate disciplinary action against the two legislators.
In his letter dated October 7, Madani writes, “I am writing to express concern over recent inflammatory statements by MLAs Nand Kishore Gurjar (Ghaziabad) and Dr. Shalabh Mani Tripathi (Deoria). Mr. Gurjar, in a widely circulated video, called for police to open fire on protesters who were opposing Yati Narsinghanand’s derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), even suggesting that those not arrested should be ‘killed in an encounter.'”
The letter goes on to criticize Gurjar’s defense of Yati Narsinghanand, a controversial Hindu priest known for his inflammatory rhetoric. According to Madani, Gurjar stated that Narsinghanand’s hateful comments might have been made “in anger,” a justification that the Jamiat leader finds deeply troubling.
“These statements, advocating extrajudicial measures and endorsing hate speech, are highly alarming and counterproductive to efforts aimed at restoring peace in Ghaziabad and other parts of the country,” Madani asserts in his letter.
Earlier this week, in a separate letter addressed to Home Minister Amit Shah, Madani raised alarm over recent comments made by Yati Narsinghanand, the head priest of Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad. Narsinghanand’s remarks about Prophet Muhammed, described by Madani as “highly offensive and blasphemous,” have further inflamed tensions in an already volatile situation.
“These remarks, which have hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims worldwide, were posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a non-Muslim user under the handle ‘Sanatan Usha Dal@maysh0893’,” Madani notes in his letter to Shah. He demanded “immediate legal action against Yati Narsinghanand for his inflammatory and disrespectful remarks and removal of the offensive video from all social media platforms, holding these platforms accountable for allowing the spread of such dangerous content.”
Madani’s letter to BJP President Nadda emphasizes, “Given the situation’s sensitivity, we urge immediate disciplinary action against both Mr. Gurjar and Dr. Tripathi to uphold India’s commitment to communal harmony and the rule of law.”
In his letter to Nadda, Madani writes, “These are not mere political statements; they are threats to the peace and unity of our country. It is the government’s responsibility to address the concerns of the people and ensure justice, but instead, we are witnessing calls for violence from such elected representatives.”
Demanding not only immediate disciplinary measures against Gurjar and Tripathi but also swift legal action against Yati Narsinghanand, Maulana Madani has warned that failure to address these provocations will embolden divisive forces and could have severe implications for communal harmony in the region.
In his letter to Home Minister Shah, Madani warns that failing to take prompt action would “embolden such divisive forces” and urges the government “to act swiftly and sternly to safeguard the nation’s values of peace, unity, and respect for all religions.”
The Jamiat’s efforts against this dangerous communal escalation have not been limited to letter writing. Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, the organization’s General Secretary, filed a formal complaint with the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner, on October 8, demanding the registration of an FIR against MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar.
In his complaint, Qasmi provides a detailed account of Gurjar’s controversial statements, made on October 6, 2024. According to the complaint, Gurjar told the media: “The police staged a drama of lathicharge at night, but they should have shot 10-20 people and then encountered them. This is an attack on the entire Hindutva. If 10-20 people die in one night, there won’t be anyone left to create such ruckus.”
Qasmi’s complaint paints a disturbing picture of an elected official apparently advocating for violence against peaceful protesters. “By mischaracterizing the protesters and calling for extrajudicial killings, Mr. Gurjar has incited hatred, potentially provoking communal violence and disrupting peace in Delhi and Ghaziabad,” the complaint states.
The Jamiat’s General Secretary highlights Gurjar’s history of making controversial statements, including a 2022 election slogan that was reprimanded by the Election Commission of India. Qasmi writes, “In 2022, during the run-up to the Assembly elections, he was reprimanded by the Election Commission of India for saying, ‘Na Ali, Na Bahubali, Loni mei sirf Bajrang Bali’ (Translation: ‘No Ali, No Bahubali, Only Bajrang Bali in Loni’).”
The complaint concludes with a plea for strong action: “In light of the gravity of this situation, we kindly request that you lodge an FIR against Mr. Nand Kishore Gurjar under the relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, specifically Sections 196(a), 197(c) & (d), and 352, for promoting enmity between religious groups and inciting violence.”
All eyes are on Yogi Adityanath and the BJP central leadership as the civil society awaits their response to the derogatory remarks and demands for action against the involved leaders.
