Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind National President Maulana Syed Arshad Madani has triggered a fresh controversy after remarks he made at a gathering in Kaliyar, a small town near Roorkee in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district, on 24 June. Speaking as chief guest at the organisation's State Executive Committee meeting, Madani invoked the year 1803 to argue that waging Jihad against colonial rule was a religious duty — comments that have since drawn sharp reactions across the political spectrum.

What Madani Said

Addressing a large gathering of Ulema (Islamic scholars), Hafiz (those who have memorised the Quran), and members of the Muslim community, Madani stated: 'In 1803, when our country was enslaved, a call for Jihad was issued for the nation's freedom. And to free it, to break off the chains of slavery from our necks, doing jihad is the duty of every Muslim. This is a movement that originated from the madrasas. Whoever does not know this is ignorant.'

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president framed his remarks in a historical context, positioning the anti-colonial Jihad movement as a foundational contribution of Muslims to India's independence struggle. He asserted that this legacy is often overlooked or dismissed.

Charges Against the Current Government

Madani also used the platform to level sharp criticism at the Narendra Modi-led Union government, alleging that mosques built during the independence movement are now being demolished. 'After Independence, those in power began to harm Muslims; successive governments kept the Muslim community entangled in riots and unrest, but the current government is opposed not only to Muslims but to Islam itself. Our religious sites are being razed with the help of bulldozers,' he said.

He further alleged that Muslims today face mob lynching, demolition of homes, and closure of madrasas — contrasting this with what he described as the community's historic sacrifices for the nation.

Call for Love Over Hatred

Despite the combative framing, Madani concluded with an appeal for communal harmony. 'A nation cannot survive without love and affection. I urge everyone: if you love the country, abandon the politics of hatred and keep the politics of love alive,' he said, urging Muslims to live with affection towards all communities as the true measure of national loyalty.

He cited Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's relief work during floods in West Bengal — where the organisation reportedly provided food to both Hindus and Muslims — as an example of the community's commitment to national solidarity.

Context and Background

The 1803 reference alludes to the early anti-British resistance movements led by Muslim clerics and scholars, a period that predates the more widely commemorated 1857 uprising. Historians have documented these movements, though their characterisation — particularly the use of the term 'Jihad' — has long been a point of political and academic contention in India.

Madani's remarks come at a time of heightened sensitivity around mosque demolitions and madrasa regulations, with multiple legal and administrative actions in various states drawing protests from Muslim organisations. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has been among the most vocal in challenging such actions in courts.

How authorities and political parties formally respond to the latest remarks is expected to become clear in the coming days.