In his latest incendiary comments, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, national president of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, sparked controversy by suggesting that the demand for a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ could be countered with calls for Khalistan or a separate Muslim country. Speaking in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, the Islamist leader questioned whether Muslim youth might soon start demanding their own separate state.
Despite the existence of two separate countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh, created exclusively for Muslims, Khan failed to acknowledge their presence. Instead, he spoke out against the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ movement, and made objectionable statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he referred to as ‘Dhritarashtra.’
Khan called on the female President of India to take action against those who incite communal violence in the country in the name of Hindu-Muslim relations. He also demanded that the government take action against those who call for Khalistan and file sedition charges against them. Failure to do so, he claimed, would imply that the demand for Khalistan is similarly legitimate.
This isn’t the first time Khan has made controversial comments. Last year, he had warned Hindus that the day would come when the rage of Muslim youth would burst and Hindus wouldn’t find a place to hide in India. In 2022, he even demanded martyr status for terrorists killed in the Batla House encounter.
The radical cleric’s remarks have drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum. His comments are seen as divisive and inflammatory, particularly at a time when communal tensions in the country remain high.
