Muslim religious leaders in Karnataka have voiced strong criticism of the Congress party, accusing it of acting unfairly while taking disciplinary action against two party members. The remarks came during a press conference where clerics associated with Ulama-e-Karnataka questioned the manner in which the party dealt with the issue involving Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed.
Addressing reporters, Maulana Mufti Iftikhar Qasmi alleged that the Indian National Congress had failed to follow its own internal disciplinary procedures. According to him, Jabbar was forced to resign from his position, while Naseer Ahmed was removed from his post and Jabbar was later expelled from the party’s primary membership.
Qasmi said the actions were taken without issuing a show-cause notice or giving the leaders an opportunity to explain their position. He described the move as arbitrary and inconsistent with the party’s own rules.
He also pointed out that in several other cases, leaders who openly criticised the party were not subjected to such strict measures. “When disciplinary action is taken selectively and without due process, it raises serious questions about fairness,” he said.
The clerics also revisited an earlier political demand concerning the Davanagere South Assembly constituency. Qasmi recalled that members of Ulama-e-Karnataka had approached the Congress leadership in 2023 seeking the seat for a minority candidate. At that time, the party had informed them that the constituency would remain with the sitting MLA.
However, after the MLA’s death, the issue resurfaced. According to Qasmi, when they raised the request again, the party leadership referred to instances where tickets had been given to family members of deceased leaders in other constituencies.
He questioned that reasoning, saying the party should also consider candidates outside political families. “If other seats can go to relatives of former legislators, why can’t the party consider giving this seat to someone from outside the family, possibly from the minority community?” he asked.
During the press conference, Qasmi rejected suggestions that the community’s criticism was meant to escalate tensions. Instead, he said the statements reflected growing disappointment and were intended to make the leadership aware of the concerns being felt among community members.
He added that raising these issues publicly was a way of urging the party to correct its course and ensure fairness in its internal decisions.
The clerics warned that ignoring such grievances could lead to deeper dissatisfaction among sections of the party’s traditional support base. They urged the Congress leadership to follow established procedures and maintain transparency while handling disciplinary matters.
According to them, addressing the concerns of party workers and communities in a fair and open manner would strengthen trust and prevent further unrest within the organisation.