NEW DELHI — In a rare display of cross-party unity, Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum raised serious concerns over what they described as a systematic erosion of constitutional rights, the surge in hate speech, and the worsening conditions faced by minority communities in India.
The gathering brought together MPs from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Biju Janata Dal, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and others at a dinner hosted by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind(Mahmood faction) in a five star hotel.
At the heart of the discussion was a detailed report presented by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind highlighting multiple pressing concerns: state-backed targeting of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, the Centre’s growing alignment with Israel at the cost of India’s traditional support for Palestine, a surge in hate speech, and threats to the secular fabric of the nation.
In a keynote address, Maulana Mahmood Madani criticized the Modi government’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, calling it a betrayal of India’s longstanding moral and diplomatic stance. “Today, humanity is bleeding in Palestine. Remaining silent is a blot on our conscience,” Madani declared, urging the government to speak out against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Turning to Assam, Madani accused authorities of weaponizing eviction drives to displace Bengali-speaking Muslims. “These are not lawful relocations. These are deliberate attempts to marginalize an entire community, carried out under the guise of legality,” he said.
He proposed the formation of an all-party parliamentary delegation to visit Assam and assess the situation on the ground. “If an official delegation is not permitted, like-minded MPs must go independently,” he added. The proposal received strong backing from several MPs across the political spectrum.
IUML MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer supported the idea of including civil society members in such a delegation. “The Constitution is under threat. Secular parties must join hands to defend it,” he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Shivpal Singh Patel emphasized that repression was not limited to Muslims but extended to all marginalized groups. His party colleague Harendra Malik warned of a creeping alignment of state policy with M.S. Golwalkar’s ideology, which he said envisions an India without space for minorities.
TMC MP Nadeem Haque condemned what he described as a “nationwide witch-hunt” of Bengali-speaking Muslims, while IUML’s Abdusamad Samadani praised the Jamiat for its consistent advocacy for the oppressed.
Maulana Muhibullah Nadvi drew a stark parallel between the situation in Assam and Gaza. “Families are being picked up without warrants, detained in temporary facilities, and subjected to violence — all while the law looks away,” he said.
Congress MP Mohammad Jawed urged against restricting the proposed Assam delegation to Muslim lawmakers. “Dalits and OBCs are also bearing the brunt of this divisive politics. This has to be a joint resistance,” he said.
Several other MPs raised urgent concerns during the event:
Isa Khan Chowdhury (Congress, West Bengal) questioned the constitutional basis for what he called the “linguistic profiling” of Bengali speakers.
Mujeebullah Khan (Rajya Sabha, Odisha) cited a recent case in Odisha where a Muslim girl was set on fire, linking it to rising communal violence in the state.
Mian Altaf Larvi (National Conference) warned that India’s global image was being tarnished by these internal developments.
Mohammed Hamdullah Sayeed (Lakshadweep) noted that Arabic had been removed from the school curriculum and madrasas on the island were under attack.
Haris Beeran (Rajya Sabha) called for robust legal action to counter injustice, emphasizing the role of the judiciary.
The report presented by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind was endorsed by a host of MPs including Imran Pratapgarhi, Imran Masood (Saharanpur), Iqra Hasan Chaudhary (Kairana), Abu Tahir Khan, Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Mohammad Abdullah (DMK), Abdul Wahab, J.B. Mathur, and G. Kumar Naik.
Senior Jamiat leaders including General Secretary Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi and Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Nadvi also addressed the gathering.
The evening concluded with a collective call for secular and democratic forces to unite in resisting communal polarization and defending India’s constitutional ethos.
