New Delhi: BJP Minority Morcha president Jamal Siddiqui has urged Darul Uloom Deoband to issue a fatwa against Mohammad Rizvi, a Congress worker arrested for making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a political rally in Bihar. Rizvi has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody after a police complaint filed by BJP leaders.
Siddiqui wrote to the seminary, calling the remarks “extremely derogatory” and arguing that they insulted family values and tarnished the image of the Muslim community. He demanded that a fatwa be issued to publicly denounce Rizvi’s actions. The BJP has also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, demanding apologies from them even though both were absent when the incident took place.
The incident triggered clashes between BJP and Congress-RJD supporters in Bihar. The Opposition INDIA bloc has denied any link with Rizvi and distanced itself from his remarks. Critics have pointed out that while the BJP frequently demands respect for its leaders and their families, it has often overlooked or encouraged offensive comments against respected opposition figures, activists, and minority leaders.
Analysts say the move to involve Darul Uloom Deoband shows the BJP’s attempt to frame the issue in religious terms while ignoring its own track record on offensive political speech. Community members have stressed that political disputes should be addressed through law and democratic accountability, not selective religious directives.
