Leaders Condemn Police Action During Protest
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
A large gathering of Muslim leaders, activists, lawyers, students, and concerned citizens assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi today to protest against what organisers described as repeated actions and demolitions involving mosques and other places of worship across the country. The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Monitoring Committee of Indian Muslims, attracted participants from diverse backgrounds who voiced concerns not only over religious sites but also over broader issues related to constitutional rights, democratic freedoms, and social justice.
The protest took a dramatic turn when Delhi Police detained several prominent leaders and participants. Among those detained were Lok Sabha Members of Parliament Iqra Hasan, Muhibullah Nadwi, and Zia ur Rehman Barq, along with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President Malik Motasim Khan, Students Islamic Organisation National President Abdul Hafeez, and several other activists, students, and community representatives. According to organisers, the detainees were taken to different police stations across the city.
Reacting to the police action, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President Syed Sadatullah Hussaini stated that the issue extends beyond any single mosque or community and concerns the rule of law itself. He argued that demolitions or actions against places of worship without adequate legal and constitutional safeguards raise serious questions about governance and justice. Hussaini alleged that the selective targeting of mosques and churches reflects communal bias and described the detention of peaceful protesters as a matter of concern for democratic values and constitutional freedoms.
Former Member of Parliament and President of the Indian Muslim Council for Reforms (IMCR), Mohammed Adeeb, said organisers had informed the authorities in advance and intended to conduct a peaceful and lawful demonstration. He maintained that preventing citizens from expressing concerns through democratic means was troubling and urged authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest.
Lok Sabha MP Iqra Hasan also criticised the police action, asserting that peaceful public demonstrations should not be viewed as threats. She said citizens have the right to assemble and express their concerns and called on authorities to engage with public grievances rather than suppress them.
Organisers emphasised that the protest was not solely focused on Muslim issues. Participants from different communities raised concerns about attacks and demolitions involving various religious places, while also highlighting wider national issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the functioning of democratic institutions, and matters affecting youth and society. They reiterated their commitment to pursuing concerns related to religious freedom, constitutional rights, democratic accountability, and social justice through peaceful and lawful means.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing peaceful and lawful channels to champion constitutional rights, religious freedom, democratic accountability, and social justice.