The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has presented its report regarding the allegations of religious discrimination raised by Mahua Moitra, an TMC MP from West Bengal. The Commission found that the claims made in the complaint do not align with the testimonies of three officials, all of whom categorically deny any instance of religious discrimination.
The Commission has directed the West Bengal police to investigate the source of the complaint and the accusations themselves. Moitra filed the complaint with the commission on September 16, asserting that during the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to West Bengal, three senior Muslim officials were deliberately excluded from government meetings and events. This incident is linked to Shah's visits in July and August.
In her complaint, Mahua Moitra named Syed Waqar Raju, the Siliguri Police Commissioner; Javed Shamim, the STF Director; and Khalil Ahmed, the Additional Minister for Fire and Emergency Services. According to the complaint, Raju was asked to leave a border security meeting in Siliguri on July 18, and his name was absent from the official minutes. It was also alleged that Javed Shamim was not allowed to attend the meeting, and a junior staff member was present in his place.
Furthermore, Moitra stated that Khalil Ahmed was asked to leave after arriving at a disaster preparedness meeting held in Kolkata on July 19. She attributed these incidents to religious discrimination and demanded an investigation by the commission. At the time, these accusations lacked independent confirmation.
During the commission's hearing in Kolkata on October 5, the testimonies of all three officials mentioned in the complaint were recorded. All stated that they were not subjected to discrimination based on religion. They also emphasized that they were not intentionally isolated from any government meetings, protocols, or events due to their religious affiliation.
The Commission noted that the officials' statements contradict the main claims outlined in Mahua Moitra's complaint. Numerous attempts were made to contact Moitra to allow her to present her position and provide evidence supporting the allegations. However, she did not attend the hearings, so her statement could not be recorded.
Consequently, the commission instructed the West Bengal police to verify the source of the complaint. The police were also ordered to examine official records, protocols, and documents related to the meetings. If it is determined that the allegations were intentionally false or fabricated, the commission recommended considering filing a criminal case against those responsible. Additionally, a report was requested from the West Bengal police detailing the measures taken in this matter.