Amit Shah Defends Trivedi's Controversial Muslim Remarks in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, April 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Digvijaya Singh engaged in a heated exchange during the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Key Points

Trivedi sparks controversy by categorizing Muslims as 'good' and 'bad'

Shah defends remarks, links opposition to controversial figures

Opposition demands statement be expunged

Parliamentary drama unfolds in Rajya Sabha

The confrontation was sparked by BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi's controversial remarks on the Muslim community. Trivedi claimed that "good Muslims" align with the BJP while "bad Muslims" are associated with the Congress, leading Singh to object strongly and accuse Amit Shah of bearing responsibility for the Gujarat riots.

Amit Shah firmly refuted the allegations, clarifying that he was not the Home Minister at the time of the riots, taking office eighteen months after they had ended.

The BJP member Trivedi, during the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, lamented the shift in the Muslim community’s representation over the years. He

contrasted the icons of India’s independence era - luminaries like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Fariduddin Dagar, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Jigar Moradabadi - with figures such as Ishrat Jahan, Yakub Memon, Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmed, and Dawood Ibrahim.

He questioned the association of the Muslim community with individuals linked to controversies, attributing this shift to the politics that emerged after India adopted secularism in 1976.

His remarks sparked strong objections from opposition members.

Dr. Fauzia Khan of the NCP-SCP urged the Chairman to expunge Trivedi’s statement, arguing that associating the “Muslim community with terrorists” was an unfounded and offensive generalisation.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed her sentiments, condemning Trivedi’s comments as stigmatising an entire community and criticising the Chairman for allowing such remarks to stand.

Home Minister Amit Shah defended Trivedi, asserting that his statements were factual, adding that the NCP had honoured Ishrat Jahan’s family, labelling her a martyr.

He further noted that figures like Atiq Ahmed and another Ansari were affiliated with the Congress.

Amid the heated exchanges, DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva invoked a Rule of parliamentary proceedings, which mandates the Chair to address defamatory remarks made against a member or a community.

The Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reserved his decision, promising to address the matter the following day.

Reader Comments

Rajesh K.

This kind of political mudslinging helps no one. Why can't we focus on actual policies instead of divisive rhetoric? Both sides need to show more maturity in Parliament. 🇮🇳

Priya M.

Trivedi's remarks were completely unacceptable! You can't label an entire community based on a few individuals. This is exactly what creates divisions in our society. Shameful!

Arjun S.

While I don't agree with how Trivedi phrased it, he did raise some valid points about how political parties have used religion for votes. The debate should focus on facts, not emotions.

Sunita P.

The way our politicians behave in Parliament is embarrassing. Instead of solving real issues, they're busy throwing accusations at each other. When will this change? 😔

Kunal R.

Respectfully disagree with some comments here - Amit Shah was right to clarify his position on Gujarat riots. Facts matter in these debates, not just emotional reactions.

Meena L.

Why are we still talking about 2002? It's 2024! Can our politicians please focus on current issues like unemployment and inflation instead of digging up the past?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:

Amit Shah Digvijaya Singh Sudhanshu Trivedi Rajya Sabha Muslim Community Political Controversy