Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has written to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, alleging that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal were excluded from official events linked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits to the state because of their religion.
Moitra had raised the issue on social media a few days earlier, alleging that Muslim officers were kept away from events attended by Shah in north Bengal.
She named Siliguri Police Commissioner Waquar Raza, West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force chief Jawed Shamim and IAS officer Khalil Ahmed.
A complaint was later filed against Moitra in Diamond Harbour over her social media post. The cybercrime police subsequently summoned her for questioning.
Moitra Alleges Exclusion of Three Officers
In her letter to Prof Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Moitra alleged that the three officers were either asked to leave or told not to attend official events on three occasions during Shah’s visits to West Bengal in July and August.
Moitra alleged that officers from other religious backgrounds were allowed to participate in the same events.
“The one factor these three officers share, and the one factor that sets them apart from the colleagues who were permitted to remain, is their religion,” she alleged in the letter.
Allegations Involve Official Protocol
Moitra claimed that the alleged exclusion involved officers whose roles were connected with official protocol and government business during Shah’s visits.
She had earlier alleged that Waquar Raza was barred from the welcome lineup when Shah was present. She also alleged that Jawed Shamim was not invited to events attended by the Union minister and that Khalil Ahmed was asked to leave a meeting.
Moitra described the incidents as a pattern of “deliberate exclusion” and said such actions could affect the confidence of minority communities in police and security institutions.
She cited provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights while alleging that the reported conduct was discriminatory.
Moitra Seeks UN Intervention
Moitra also highlighted Shah’s position as Union Home Minister, noting that the ministry oversees several central police, border and intelligence agencies.
She urged the Special Rapporteur to seek information from the Government of India about the alleged exclusion of the officers and the authority under which any such instructions may have been issued.
The TMC MP also asked the Special Rapporteur to urge the government to ensure that officers are not excluded from official functions on the basis of religion.
Seeks Preservation of Records
Moitra requested that police and security agencies be allowed to carry out their duties towards minority communities without discrimination.
She also sought the preservation of CCTV footage, tour diaries and other official records related to Shah’s visits to West Bengal.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues is an independent human rights expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to raise awareness about minority rights and identify obstacles to their protection.
