Incident at the joint rally of the chief minister and Jayant Chaudhary sparks debate; questions raised over coordination and respect for elected representatives
MUZAFFARNAGAR — A political event in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh has drawn attention after a Muslim MLA from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) was stopped from entering a high-profile rally attended by top leaders.
The rally was addressed by Yogi Adityanath and Jayant Chaudhary at the Exhibition Ground, where heavy security arrangements were in place.
However, Ghulam Mohammad, an elected MLA from Siwalkhas in Meerut, was stopped at the main gate and not allowed to proceed towards the stage.
According to reports, Ghulam Mohammad reached the venue to attend the rally and attempted to enter through the main gate leading to the stage area. At the entrance, he was stopped by Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) on duty.
Sources said the MLA identified himself and informed the officials that he was an elected representative of the RLD. Despite this, he was not allowed entry.
A person present at the spot said, “He clearly told them he was an MLA, but he was still stopped. It created an awkward situation.”
Police Cite Security Protocol
Police officials later clarified that the denial of entry was due to strict security rules at the event. Only individuals whose names were included in the authorised list were permitted near the stage.
An official said, “There were clear instructions that only listed leaders and guests could enter the secured area. His name was not on the list, so he was stopped as per protocol.”
During the exchange, there was a brief argument between the MLA and the officer at the gate. A video of the moment later surfaced on social media, drawing public attention.
MLA Calls it a Misunderstanding
After the video went viral, Ghulam Mohammad issued a clarification, describing the entire episode as a misunderstanding.
He said, “I thought my name would be on the list since senior leaders of my party and the chief minister were present. But I had not informed anyone in advance.”
He added, “When I asked to see the list and did not find my name, I chose to return without creating any issue.”
Political Reactions and Questions
The incident has led to discussion in political circles, especially regarding how an elected Muslim representative was stopped from entering a public political event of his own alliance.
A local political observer said, “Even if it was a protocol issue, better coordination was expected. Such incidents raise questions about communication and respect.”
Residents also reacted to the development. One local said, “If an MLA can be stopped like this, it shows there was some failure in planning.”
Background of Rising Political Activity
With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, political activities across the state have increased. Joint rallies and alliances are being closely watched.
While officials maintain that the incident was purely procedural, the visuals and reactions have ensured that it remains part of the ongoing political conversation in the state.
For now, the MLA has downplayed the issue, but the episode has raised wider questions about coordination, communication and the treatment of elected representatives at major public events.
