New Delhi, July 2025 — A political storm has erupted following a reported meeting of Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders inside a mosque near Parliament, prompting calls for the removal of Maulana Mohibbullah Nadvi, who serves both as the mosque’s imam and as an SP Member of Parliament from Rampur.

📜 Cleric’s Letter to Delhi CM

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, demanding Nadvi’s dismissal from his religious post. In his letter, Barelvi stated that the SP meeting — attended by Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, and other leaders — violated the sanctity of the mosque and hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.

“No other work can be done inside the mosque except offering prayers to God,” Barelvi wrote, adding that “impure people cannot enter the mosque; only those who are pure may do so”.

He also objected to the presence of women at the meeting, claiming their entry was prohibited and that the mosque was misused for political messaging.

🏛️ BJP Minority Wing Joins the Protest

The BJP Minority Morcha, led by Jamal Siddiqui, has also raised objections to Nadvi’s dual role. Siddiqui sent letters to both Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and CM Rekha Gupta, alleging that Nadvi’s position as imam constitutes an “office of profit” since he receives a salary from the Delhi Waqf Board, a statutory body.

Siddiqui accused Nadvi of treating the mosque as personal property and promoting the Samajwadi Party within its premises. He cited the July 22 meeting, where SP leaders reportedly held discussions and consumed refreshments inside the mosque — actions he claims violate Islamic norms.

📌 What’s Next?

The controversy has sparked debate over the intersection of religion and politics, and whether religious spaces should be used for political gatherings. Both clerical and political voices are now urging the Delhi government to take action and preserve the religious integrity of places of worship.