CM Dhami attacks Rahul Gandhi over silence on Muslim clerics' remarks
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami used a Dehradun press conference to simultaneously target Rahul Gandhi over silence on two separate Muslim cleric controversies, refute the Haldwani purification row narrative, and defend the state’s madrasa closure policy — a tightly coordinated political offensive ahead of what is shaping up as a charged communal-political season.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attacked Rahul Gandhi and Congress on 2 September for not reacting to remarks by Muslim clerics.
Kerala Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad reportedly made controversial statements about women stepping out of their homes, according to Dhami.
Mufti Mujeeb was arrested for an alleged provocative speech near Trishul Chowk, Rudrapur , in which he reportedly warned of Muslim retaliation if madrassas are shut.
Dhami defended the Uttarakhand government’s policy of closing madrassas that do not comply with the Education Board curriculum.
The Chief Minister refuted allegations of a caste-targeted purification ritual at a Haldwani venue where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken, attributing the havan to Sri Ram Sena members objecting to alleged jihadi slogans.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 2 September launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Indian National Congress (INC), accusing them of remaining silent on allegedly objectionable remarks made by Muslim clerics while, he claimed, consistently targeting Sanatan Dharma. Dhami made the remarks at a press conference in Dehradun.
Dhami's Charge Against Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Referring to statements attributed to Kerala Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, CM Dhami said: “The Congress party’s Yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) keeps making statements at different places in every possible way to hurt Sanatan. A few days ago, he made a statement about the patriarchal system, and today I am seeing that a Grand Mufti, Abu Bakr Ahmad, has made a very controversial statement regarding women. He has said that women should not step out of their homes, along with several other things, reflecting a very narrow mindset. But neither the Congress nor Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra react to such things.”
Dhami added: “But when it comes to Sanatan, he (Rahul Gandhi) leaves no stone unturned to harm it.”
Rudrapur Cleric Arrest and Madrasa Policy
The Chief Minister also pointed to a separate incident involving Mufti Mujeeb, a Muslim cleric who reportedly delivered a provocative speech near Trishul Chowk in Rudrapur. According to police, Mufti Mujeeb stated: “If the government shuts down madrassas, you cannot even imagine what Muslims will do.” The cleric was subsequently arrested for the purported speech.
Dhami noted that neither the Congress nor Rahul Gandhi had responded to those remarks either. He reiterated the Uttarakhand government’s standing policy that any madrasa failing to obtain requisite permission, comply with minority education authority provisions, or follow the prescribed Education Board curriculum would face closure. “It is because we want educational institutions where students can attain modern education. Every child, regardless of who they are, should receive such education today,” he said.
Haldwani Purification Row: Dhami Refutes Allegations
CM Dhami also addressed the controversy surrounding a reported purification ritual — or ‘havan’ — conducted at a venue in Haldwani where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had previously addressed an event. He denied that any caste was targeted or insulted. “It was neither about a person or about any caste. There is no proof that any caste was being insulted at the event,” Dhami said.
He attributed the ritual to members of Sri Ram Sena, a religious organisation, who he said objected to ‘jihadi slogans’ allegedly raised at the venue. Dhami further noted that the organisation’s membership includes people from Scheduled Castes, questioning how they could be accused of performing a purification ritual against their own community. He accused the Congress of constructing a political narrative around the incident “for votes.”
Political Context
The remarks come amid a broader pattern of BJP-Congress friction over religious and minority policy ahead of state political cycles. Critics argue that such exchanges — trading accusations of selective silence — have become a recurring feature of Indian political discourse, particularly around identity and communal issues. The Congress has not publicly responded to Dhami’s specific charges as of the time of this report.
Point of View
Neutralise the Haldwani purification controversy, and reinforce Uttarakhand’s madrasa crackdown as a governance credential. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that the BJP’s ‘selective silence’ framing is itself a selective framing — the party rarely faces the same question about its own members’ communally charged statements. The Congress’s failure to respond swiftly to clerical controversies does hand the BJP a recurring rhetorical opening, but Dhami’s conflation of two distinct incidents — the Grand Mufti’s remarks and Mufti Mujeeb’s arrest — into a single charge risks obscuring the legal and factual distinctions between them.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Dhami attack Rahul Gandhi at the Dehradun press conference?
CM Dhami accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of staying silent on allegedly controversial remarks by Muslim clerics — including Kerala Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and Mufti Mujeeb of Rudrapur — while, he claimed, consistently making statements that harm Sanatan Dharma. The press conference took place on 2 September in Dehradun.
What did Mufti Mujeeb say and why was he arrested?
According to police, Mufti Mujeeb stated near Trishul Chowk in Rudrapur: ‘If the government shuts down madrassas, you cannot even imagine what Muslims will do.’ He was subsequently arrested for the purportedly provocative speech.
What is the Haldwani purification row about?
The controversy relates to a reported havan (purification ritual) conducted at a Haldwani venue where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had previously addressed a gathering. CM Dhami denied any caste was targeted, attributing the ritual to Sri Ram Sena members who objected to alleged jihadi slogans raised at the event.
What is Uttarakhand’s policy on madrassas?
The Uttarakhand government has stated that any madrasa failing to obtain permission from the minority education authority, not complying with its provisions, or not following the Education Board’s prescribed curriculum will be closed. CM Dhami framed this as a push for modern education for all children.
What did Kerala Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad reportedly say?
According to CM Dhami’s statement at the press conference, the Kerala Grand Mufti reportedly said women should not step out of their homes, among other remarks Dhami described as reflecting a ‘very narrow mindset.’ NationPress has not independently verified the full text of the Mufti’s statement.
