Sambhal: Samajwadi Party MLA Iqbal Mahmood from Sambhal has stirred controversy with his statement that India will not see a Muslim prime minister for the next 500 years. Addressing community concerns, Mahmood said Muslims vote thoughtfully, prioritizing the protection of their faith, mosques, and madrasas.
He credited parties like Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, and Congress for working on Muslim issues, saying this is why Muslims prefer them electorally. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of ignoring Muslim concerns while pursuing divisive politics.
Mahmood argued that Muslims are realistic about political realities. “We know what roles we can achieve. Across states, except for Jammu and Kashmir in the past, all chief ministers have been non-Muslims. We have always accepted non-Muslim leadership,” he said.
Responding to BJP’s “80-20” pitch, he remarked that it reflects a Hindu-Muslim divide, and Muslims naturally support whichever party stands for their rights. He also dismissed former ally Om Prakash Rajbhar’s criticism, saying his comments were not taken seriously. On AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s repeated attacks on Samajwadi Party, Mahmood defended SP president Akhilesh Yadav. “No leader has spoken more about Muslims than Akhilesh. Even Azam Khan’s family remains loyal to the party,” he said.
He also questioned Hindutva leaders who claim Hindus face danger in India. “This is a country of 140 crore people, with Muslims making up 20 to 22 percent. How can such fears be justified?” Mahmood said.
The MLA’s remarks have triggered reactions across political circles, with critics accusing him of playing the “Muslim card” while supporters see his words as reflecting the frustration of a sidelined community.
