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Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Personal Law Board vice-president demands condemnation of Varsha Gaikwad's statement on 2006 Mumbai train blasts verdict
MUMBAI: All India Muslim Personal Law Board ( ) vice-President Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi has launched a scathing attack on Mumbai Congress President and MP Varsha Gaikwad over her response to the 2006 Bombay train blasts acquittals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a strongly-worded letter, addressed to the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, ormer Rajya Sabha member Azmi has demanded immediate condemnation of Gaikwad's statements as it exposes deep tensions with the party's traditional Muslim voter base. Azmi, an influential figure in Muslim politics who served in Parliament from 1990 to 2008, accused Gaikwad of undermining the Congress's secular credentials by demanding an appeal in the Supreme Court against acquittals of the 12 accused by the Bombay High Court in the 2006 train bombings case. The comprehensive 671-page judgment acquitted all 12 accused after 19 years of legal proceedings, citing the prosecution's complete failure to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The court delivered severe criticism of the original investigation, highlighting systemic incompetence, procedural lapses, and allegations of torture used to extract confessions, despite police submitting a massive 44,500-page charge sheet related to the July 11, 2006 attacks that killed over 180 people and injured more than 800 in seven coordinated train bombings. The AIMPLB leader characterized Gaikwad's call for an appeal as "heartless" and reminiscent of "RSS-like ideologies," marking a significant escalation in intra-party conflict. He specifically targeted what he perceives as her "betrayal" of the Muslim community, noting her political career thrived on "unwavering Muslim support." Azmi argued that, instead of advocating for compassion or compensation for families who endured 19 years of wrongful imprisonment, Gaikwad aligned herself with "divisive narratives" that contradict Congress's commitment to fairness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His letter warned that this stance risks alienating a vital electoral base, potentially forcing Muslim supporters to reconsider their trust in Congress leadership. The controversy erupted after Gaikwad publicly stated "all Mumbaikars feel deeply betrayed" by the acquittals and urged the state government to "put all its legal might" into challenging the verdict in the Supreme Court to deliver justice to victims' families. These remarks drew immediate backlash from Muslim leaders who viewed them as a profound betrayal. The political fallout intensified when the Supreme Court stayed the Bombay High Court verdict on July 24, 2025, though clarifying the acquitted individuals wouldn't return to prison. This intervention followed the Maharashtra government's appeal, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressing concern the verdict's observations could impact other cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Facing mounting criticism, Gaikwad later clarified her words were misconstrued, emphasizing her commitment to constitutional principles as a follower of B.R. Ambedkar. She stated she had questioned the government about compensation for the wrong fully imprisoned while also seeking justice for blast victims' families. However, sections of Muslim leaders remained unconvinced, arguing the damage was already done. Azmi's letter reflects broader concerns about the 's commitment to secular principles and its ability to maintain minority trust in a polarized climate. The veteran politician warned that failure to address these issues could further erode the party's credibility and moral foundation, with senior leadership's response likely determining whether crucial Muslim voter support can be retained in future elections.
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mumbai blast acquittals: AIMPLB leader questions Mumbai Cong chief remarks, asks party to clarify stand
Former Rajya Sabha MP and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) vice-president Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi has written a strongly worded letter to senior Congress leaders, accusing the party of failing Muslims with regard to the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case and demanded action against Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad for seeking a Supreme Court appeal in the case. The letter, addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, terms the 2006 case 'a profound miscarriage of justice' and Gaikwad's response to the acquittals as 'heartless' and 'reminiscent of RSS-like ideologies'. 'All Mumbaikars feel deeply betrayed today. The acquittal of all accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts is extremely unfortunate and disheartening. I appeal to the state to put all its legal might and challenge this case in the Supreme Court. Justice must be delivered to those who lost their near and dear ones in this cowardly act of terror,' Gaikwad had said after the Bombay High Court verdict. Azmi, a three-term Rajya Sabha MP and a key voice during the Shah Bano case debates of the 1980s, said 'the colossal failure of justice' took place under the Congress government in Maharashtra and at the Centre. He criticised the police for allegedly arresting the wrong people and filing a '44,500-page chargesheet' that collapsed in court nearly two decades later. 'These innocent men have been let off by the court after 19 years. The court rejected the police report. The real culprits have never been caught. And the Congress, which advocates for welfare of Muslims, is making such a statement. Varshaji wants the men released by the court to be rearrested. She should have instead been meeting them, putting balm on their wounds. Her statement is a slap on the face of the Congress. She is president of the Mumbai Congress. The party cannot say this is her personal view. It must clarify,' Azmi told The Indian Express. Gaikwad told The Indian Express she respected the law as 'a follower of B R Ambedkar'. 'I have made my stand clear and said that those who are innocent should be given compensation for their ordeal. But at the same time, I attacked the government for failing to bring the guilty to justice. As an ordinary Mumbaikar, my heart also goes out to the hundreds who died or got injured. It is closure and justice for them that I demand. The real culprits must be caught and action must be taken against those who botched up the investigation,' she said. The Bombay High Court, earlier this month, acquitted all 12 accused in the case, slamming the prosecution for lapses in the probe, and citing lack of credible evidence. The 671-page judgment noted procedural irregularities and allegations of torture to extract confessions. The 2006 Mumbai train bombings had killed over 180 people and injured more than 800. The case was one of the most complex terror investigations in India, with multiple agencies involved. 'The case devastated families, leaving children fatherless and lives in ruins, and remains a stain on Congress's legacy,' Azmi wrote. Azmi alleged that Gaikwad's stance — especially given her political career's 'dependence on unwavering Muslim support'— has caused 'deep hurt' in the community and eroded trust in the party's secular credentials. 'Her rhetoric, disturbingly akin to BJP's tactics…signals a departure from the Congress's commitment to fairness and inclusion,' he said. He urged the Congress leadership to publicly condemn Gaikwad's remarks and to clarify that her statements do not represent the party's position. He also sought compensation for the men who were acquitted after spending 19 years facing trial and imprisonment. 'Failure to act will further erode the party's credibility among Muslims and weaken its moral foundation,' Azmi warned. A firebrand speaker and a former student leader, Azmi was one of the most prominent Muslim voices in the Rajya Sabha during the Shah Bano controversy, when he vocally opposed the Supreme Court's judgment and rallied support for Muslim Personal Law.
