Muslim fundraisers accused of seeking donations for the Babri mosque and being ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’; local leaders question the targeting of the community during the holy month
NEW DELHI — A routine Ramadan charity collection in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut has turned into a political controversy after a BJP legislator objected to Muslim men seeking donations, calling them “infiltrators” and “suspicious”, despite police verification clearing them of wrongdoing.
The issue has drawn attention as it unfolded days before a scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat are also expected to attend an official programme.
The development has raised questions about the treatment of Muslim citizens during religious activities and about the tone of public discourse at a sensitive time.
The holy month of Ramadan has begun, a period when Muslims fast during the day and increase charitable acts. It is common practice for individuals associated with madrasas and religious institutions to visit neighbourhoods and collect zakat and fitra — voluntary and obligatory charity given by Muslims to support the poor and religious causes.
Locals in Meerut said that such visits have taken place every year without major controversy.
However, this year, a group of Muslim men who had come to collect donations became the focus of suspicion after complaints were made by some traders in the area.
Complaints and Police Action
According to police sources, traders reported that around 70 to 80 “unknown Muslim men” were moving around seeking donations. Following the complaint, police brought 21 individuals to the police station for questioning and verification.
After checking their Aadhaar cards and conducting identity verification, the police allowed them to leave.
A senior police official said, “The individuals were brought in for verification after a complaint was received. Their identities were checked and found to be valid. After that, they were released.”
Police also clarified that some of the men were from states such as Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, but there was no evidence to suggest that they were illegal migrants.
“Every year during Ramadan, people associated with religious institutions come to collect charity. There is nothing unusual in that. Verification was carried out as a precaution,” a police officer said.
MLA Raises Objections
The matter escalated when Meerut MLA Amit Agarwal publicly objected to the police action of releasing the men.
He alleged that the fundraisers were not merely collecting routine charity but were seeking donations for the construction of the Babri mosque in West Bengal. He also described them as “infiltrators” and “suspicious”.
“There is a major programme of the Prime Minister in Meerut. The Chief Minister and RSS chief are here. In such a situation, what are so many suspicious Muslims doing in the city?” he asked.
Agarwal further questioned how the police could verify the identities of so many people in a short time.
“So many people from Assam, Bihar and Bengal — how can their verification be completed within half an hour?” he said.
He added, “The police told me that 21 people were verified. If only 21 were verified, where did the others go in between?”
The MLA also alleged that the men were “infiltrators” who were taking shelter in mosques, madrasas and graveyards instead of returning to Bangladesh after certain official processes.
Police Stand by Verification
Police officials rejected the allegations of infiltration.
One officer said, “There is no evidence that the individuals are illegal migrants. Their documents were checked. They were found to be Indian citizens.”
The official added that it was not unusual for people to travel from other states to collect donations during Ramadan, especially if they are linked to religious institutions.
“We acted on a complaint, conducted verification and followed procedure. There was no reason to detain them further,” he said.
The police have not confirmed any link between the men and the construction of any mosque outside the state.
Community Reaction
Members of the Muslim community in Meerut expressed concern over what they described as unnecessary suspicion during a holy month.
A local madrasa teacher said, “Ramadan is a month of charity. People come to ask for zakat and fitra. It is part of our religious practice. To call them infiltrators without proof is hurtful.”
Another resident said, “If there was any doubt, the police did the right thing by verifying documents. But after verification, the matter should have ended.”
Some community members questioned why routine religious activities were being linked to national security concerns.
“Charity collection is being turned into a political issue,” said a local businessman. “This creates fear among ordinary people.”
Political Context
The controversy comes at a time when Meerut is preparing for a high-profile government event.
In his remarks, MLA Amit Agarwal suggested that the presence of “outsiders” in the city posing a security concern.
“If anything happens during the Prime Minister’s programme, the responsibility will be on the police administration,” he said.
His comments have been criticised by some observers who say that linking Muslim charity workers to security threats without evidence can deepen mistrust.
Broader Concerns
The incident has once again highlighted tensions around identity, migration and religious practice in parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Allegations of “Bangladeshi infiltration” have been raised in political debates across several states in recent years. However, rights groups have repeatedly said that such claims must be backed by evidence and due process.
In this case, police verification did not find any proof that the men were foreign nationals.
Legal experts say that branding individuals as infiltrators without official confirmation can have serious consequences.
A senior advocate in Lucknow said, “If the police have verified identity documents and found no violation, then public statements calling them infiltrators should be made with caution. Words matter.”
Social Media and Public Mood
The incident has also triggered debate on social media, where users are divided.
Some supported the MLA’s demand for strict checks, arguing that security during a prime ministerial visit must be tight.
Others criticised the targeting of Muslims during Ramadan.
One social media user wrote, “If verification is done and documents are valid, why raise communal suspicion?”
Another wrote, “Charity is part of Ramadan. Please do not turn everything into a controversy.”
A Question of Trust
At the heart of the issue is trust — trust between communities and trust in institutions.
While the MLA has questioned the police’s verification process, the police have maintained that they followed procedure and found no wrongdoing.
The incident has left many asking whether routine religious practices can proceed peacefully without political dispute.
As Ramadan continues, community leaders have appealed for calm.
A local cleric said, “We request everyone to maintain peace. Ramadan is a month of patience and charity. Let us not create unnecessary fear.”
For now, the police say the matter stands closed, unless new evidence emerges.
But the episode has once again shown how quickly a local complaint can turn into a larger political and communal debate — especially in a charged atmosphere where religious identity and security concerns often intersect.
Whether this controversy will have further impact on community relations in Meerut remains to be seen, but for many residents, the hope is that the holy month will pass without further tension.
