Former Rajya Sabha MP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief, Maulana Mahmood Madani criticized the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi accused him of engaging in what he describes as “divisive politics.”
Mahmood Madani, a key Muslim figure in India, has been facing flak since 2015 for appearing to ease up on the BJP, India’s leading right-wing group. Critics argue that Madani, once a fierce critic of the BJP, now seems more lenient or less combative, although Madani asserts he’s still advocating for Muslim interests. This shift has led to debates on how India’s religious figures should deal with politicians.
In a talk with right-wing podcast host Sushant Sinha, Madani, from Uttar Pradesh, suggested that fellow Muslim leader Owaisi isn’t favored by the Muslim community as a leader.
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This claim seems backed by Owaisi’s party’s poor show in the UP elections, where they didn’t win any of the 95 seats they contested, only grabbing a small fraction of the votes.
Madani also took a stand on the CAA and NRC, laws that have stirred controversy. He disagreed with Owaisi’s view, saying Owaisi’s take was off the mark, and stated that Muslims from neighboring countries shouldn’t automatically get Indian citizenship. Plus, he’s okay with the government setting up the NRC, a move to identify genuine Indian citizens.
While sharing the video clip on X-platform, Sushant Sinha wrote, “Maulana Madani is saying with full confidence that NRC should be implemented. He is saying that Jamiat also has the same stand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah should take cognizance of the matter. The country needs NRC”.
Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been elected to Parliament five times from Hyderabad, has strongly opposed the BJP and its policies. However, his approach to politics, which focuses heavily on Muslim identity, didn’t win over voters in Uttar Pradesh, where many chose to support the BJP or its allies instead.
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Mahmood Madani, another prominent figure, has been accused by some of becoming less critical of the BJP since 2015. Originally known for his firm opposition to the BJP, there’s now a debate among Indian Muslims about whether Madani has become too friendly with the party.
Madani and his followers, however, argue that he’s still fighting for Muslim interests. This situation has led to discussions about how close religious leaders should get to political parties in India.
