Religious scholar Maulana Mohammad Jameel Hayat on 23 September sharply condemned remarks by All India Muslim Jamaat National President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, stating that such statements foster sectarianism and threaten communal harmony. The rebuke, delivered from Rampur, comes amid a charged political debate over Muslim representation ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

What Razvi Had Said

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi had questioned why Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav was being projected as the party's chief ministerial face, arguing that the Yadav community accounts for only 7 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's population, while the Muslim population is slightly higher. Razvi had demanded that a Muslim candidate be declared as the party's chief ministerial face for the upcoming polls — a statement that drew swift criticism from within religious and political circles.

Hayat's Condemnation

Responding directly to Razvi's position, Hayat said: 'I do not agree with his statement. This is our country. Whoever belongs here and has a right to it should get their rights. Muslims living here should have peace and security, and they should get all the rights they are entitled to.'

He warned that statements by religious scholars carry significant social weight and can 'create unrest, fuel sectarianism and lead to communal tensions.' Hayat added: 'Such things should not be said. We have to live in this country and move forward while keeping in mind the rights of both the majority and the minority.'

On the Demand for a Muslim Chief Minister

Hayat dismissed Razvi's demand for a declared Muslim chief ministerial candidate as politically unrealistic and counterproductive. 'This is claiming something which cannot be done. These issues will not serve the nation,' he said. He further argued that Hindu legislators and members of parliament had actively addressed community concerns, saying: 'It is not true that Hindu leaders do not listen to us. They listen to all our complaints and love us immensely.'

Broader Message on Minority-Majority Relations

Hayat stressed that the path to peace lay in mutual cooperation rather than competitive identity politics. He characterised Razvi's statement as 'wrong… sectarian, filled with hatred, and unsuitable,' calling on religious figures to speak with 'harmony' rather than grievance. 'Minorities should do their job while the majority should work with them in harmony — only then can peace be achieved,' he said.

Political Context Ahead of UP Elections

The exchange reflects a wider churn in Uttar Pradesh politics as parties position themselves ahead of state elections. The question of Muslim political representation has prompted several community leaders and politicians to publicly stake out positions, with some warning that identity-based demands risk fracturing coalition politics in a state where no single community commands a decisive majority. Notably, this is not the first time Razvi's remarks have sparked internal debate within Muslim religious and civil society circles. How the SP navigates such demands — without alienating either Muslim voters or broader coalition partners — is expected to shape its electoral strategy in the months ahead.