“Muslims are being intimidated in the name of ‘Vande Mataram’ in the country” : Maulana Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi

Statement by Jammu & Kashmir cleric Maulana Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi at a major Shia Muslim convention

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – Maulana Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi from Jammu & Kashmir alleged that Muslim youth are being intimidated under the pretext of being made to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” He made this statement while addressing the grand convention of the All India Shia Personal Law Board held at the historic Bada Imambara in Lucknow.

The convention was attended by around 2,000 Muslims from across India, as well as from Nepal and Bangladesh.

[In Frame]

Statement by Jammu & Kashmir cleric Maulana Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi at a major Shia Muslim convention

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – Maulana Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi from Jammu & Kashmir alleged that Muslim youth are being intimidated under the pretext of being made to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” He made this statement while addressing the grand convention of the All India Shia Personal Law Board held at the historic Bada Imambara in Lucknow.

The convention was attended by around 2,000 Muslims from across India, as well as from Nepal and Bangladesh.

Muslims are being mistreated in India just like in Pakistan”

Even after the creation of Pakistan through the partition of India, if Muslims there continue to face internal divisions, then Shia Muslims in Pakistan should consider creating a separate country for themselves—and Shia Muslims in India should move there.

Elaborating further, Maulana Rizvi said, “You see India with the light of your eyes; we see India with the light of our hearts and with eyes filled with love. The treatment meted out to Shia Muslims in Pakistan is the same as what we face here. Our population is nearly 70 million, yet we have no representation either in the central or state governments.”

“If you want to live in India, you must say ‘Vande Mataram’!” – MLA Ketki Singh

Responding sharply to Maulana Rizvi’s remarks, BJP MLA from Ballia, Ketki Singh, stated that anyone choosing to live in India must respect the national anthem, the national song, and the national flag—there is no alternative to this.

She further added, “Maulana sahab should remember that Uttar Pradesh is currently under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. Not long ago, a Maulana in Bareilly believed he had acquired excessive wisdom and tried to spread it—but Yogi ji ensured that this so-called wisdom was firmly dealt with. Such ideas should not be propagated in society.”

Editorial Perspective

Those who genuinely love this motherland say ‘Vande Mataram’ on their own. Those who do not feel that love may choose not to say it—but if they are asked to do so, they predictably raise such complaints.