A major controversy has erupted in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, following a controversial and allegedly provocative speech delivered during an Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession. Muslim speaker Mufti Mujeeb Ahmed Azhari addressed the gathering near Trishul Chowk, and a video capturing his remarks quickly circulated across various social media platforms. Prompted by the widespread circulation of the video, local law enforcement registered a case and swiftly arrested Mufti Mujeeb Ahmed Azhari. Taking serious note of the developments, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that radical ideologies would not be tolerated under any circumstances in the state and signaled that strict punitive measures would be implemented against those responsible.
Clarification From the Speaker and Legal Proceedings
In the viral video footage, the speaker can be seen discussing topics surrounding the closure of madrasas and eight acres of Eidgah land. The recording triggered intense political and social friction across the region. Following the sharp reaction from the Chief Minister, Mufti Mujeeb Ahmed Azhari released another video attempting to clarify his stance. He claimed that his statements had been taken out of context, selectively edited, and maliciously circulated on social media. According to him, viewing the entire speech in its entirety would reveal the correct context. Nevertheless, police pursued the case, formally arrested the Mufti, completed the necessary legal formalities, and produced him before a court, which subsequently sent him to jail.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the incident extended into local political circles. Shortly after the video surfaced, BJP MLA Shiv Arora expressed strong resentment over the remarks and demanded immediate administrative action. The situation escalated further when the BJP legislator reported that he has been receiving continuous threats through social media, email messages, and telephone calls. BJP MLA Shiv Arora stated that details regarding the intimidation attempts coming through various channels would be handed over to the police, and appropriate legal steps would be taken if deemed necessary.
