Madani’s remarks came during a podcast interview with right-wing anchor Sushant Sinha, where he claimed Owaisi lacks widespread support within the Muslim community, adding that they do not view him as their leader.
During the podcast, Madani addressed Owaisi’s criticism of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), challenging the AIMIM leader’s stance.
Madani argued that Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh should not be granted Indian citizenship, a position he claims is aligned with Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s long-standing demand for an NRC in Assam. He further stated that the implementation of the NRC should proceed, echoing the government’s position.
Owaisi, a five-time Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, is a consistent critic of the BJP and its policies. However, his party, AIMIM, failed to make any significant impact in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Despite contesting 95 seats, AIMIM did not win a single one, securing only 0.43 percent of the total vote across 403 constituencies. Madani referenced this electoral failure as proof of Owaisi’s limited influence among Muslims.
Sharing the interview clip on X (formerly Twitter), Sushant Sinha highlighted Madani’s support of the NRC.
“Maulana Madani is saying with full confidence that NRC should be implemented. He is saying that Jamiat also has the same stand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah should take cognizance of the matter. The country needs NRC,” Sinha wrote.
Madani’s remarks have upsetted Muslim groups, many of whom accuse him of betraying the community.
Questioning Jamiat’s endorsement of the Assam NRC process, which resulted in thousands of Muslims being detained in citizenship verification centers, one user on X wrote:
“Do these men and women, dragged into detention centers in Assam, not deserve answers as to why their lives were used as pawns by a ‘milli’ organization?”
Softened Stance Towards BJP?
Madani has faced persistent allegations since 2015 of softening his stance against the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Critics argue that he, once a vocal opponent of the BJP, has become more accommodating towards the party.
In 2019, Madani even held a controversial press conference in Geneva alongside European Union parliamentarians, where he criticized Kashmiri separatist movements—a move perceived as aligning with the Indian government’s stance.
However, Madani and his supporters have repeatedly refuted such allegations, maintaining that the Jamiat chief continues to advocate for issues important to the Muslim community.
Despite this, Madani’s recent comments have left many in the Muslim community frustrated, adding to the growing debate over the political leadership and representation of Muslims in India.
