Muslim Body Urges Delhi CM to Remove Imam Over SP Leaders’ Mosque Visit

The All India Muslim Jamaat has urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to remove Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi from his post as Imam of the Parliament Street Mosque in Delhi. In a letter addressed to Gupta, the organisation’s president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi expressed concern over a recent visit by Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders to the mosque, alleging it violated religious sanctity.

The controversy began after several SP leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, visited the mosque following the conclusion of the Parliament’s monsoon session. Their presence triggered backlash from conservative Muslim voices, who claimed political activities within a sacred space were inappropriate. Razvi asserted that “impure individuals” should not be allowed inside mosques and that Nadvi’s actions were contrary to Islamic tradition.

Maulana Nadvi, who also serves as the newly elected SP MP from Rampur, has defended the visit as purely spiritual, denying any political motives. However, critics allege that holding such a gathering in a mosque undermines religious protocols. The All India Muslim Jamaat called Nadvi’s actions “insensitive” and claimed they hurt Muslim sentiments.

The incident sparked wider debate after Maulana Sajid Rashidi made derogatory comments regarding Dimple Yadav’s attire during the mosque visit. An FIR has since been registered against him for misogynistic remarks. SP leaders have condemned the backlash, insisting their visit upheld the spirit of inclusivity and was not a political gathering.

The controversy has highlighted tensions between different Islamic sects over mosque decorum, while also raising concerns about the overlap of religion and politics. The demand for Nadvi’s removal now places the spotlight on mosque governance and inter-community sensitivities in the national capital. Delhi authorities have yet to respond publicly to the Jamaat’s demand.