Amanatullah Khan’s address at Ghausia Masjid in Okhla has sparked controversy, with opposition parties and some residents criticising him for using a religious place for political purposes. A complaint has also been filed against Amanatullah’s actions. According to an AAP insider, the imam is now under scrutiny, and the officials have visited the mosque to question him.
The matter seems to have subsided, as the Okhla AAP is reportedly unwilling to discuss it further.
The controversy erupted after Amanatullah Khan shared several photos of his address on social media, which quickly went viral. Wajid, a resident of Zakir Nagar, expressed his disapproval, stating: “Protect the sanctity of mosques from politics. Amanatullah campaigning inside a mosque is not only disgraceful but also mocks the sanctity of mosques and the dignity of places of worship. A mosque is a place of worship and spirituality, not a platform for advancing political agendas. Those who engage in political campaigning within mosques are disregarding the significance of these sacred spaces. It is essential to keep religion and politics separate. Mosques are meant for prayer, not for soliciting votes.”
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Okhla Congress candidate Ariba Khan also criticised Amanatullah Khan’s actions. “Last night, a very regrettable incident took place. In the Ghausia Masjid of Jasola village, a political programe was organised by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan. It is very painful to see that a masjid, which is the house of Allah, was used to chant slogans like ‘Kejriwal Zindabad’ and ‘Amanatullah Zindabad.’ Aam Aadmi Party flags were displayed, and party scarves were draped around people’s necks,” she said.
She continued: “It is deeply distressing that a place dedicated solely to the worship of Allah, where people come to remember Allah and think of the afterlife, was used to seek votes for a person accused of corruption during elections and for a leader responsible for locking down the Markaz. I have full faith that the people will give their verdict on this matter in their own court of justice, and Allah will also deliver His judgment for this disrespect in His court.”
Reacting to a video posted by the OT, a netizen commented: “This is the fault of the mosque committee. It is often observed that the committee members have no understanding of etiquette or proper conduct.” Another netizen added, “This should not happen in the mosque. The imam should be dismissed.”
Amanatullah Khan is seeking his third consecutive term in the Assembly elections scheduled for February 5. In Okhla, other candidates include Ariba Khan from Congress, Shifaur Rehman from AIMIM, and Manish Chaudhry from BJP. Smaller parties and independent candidates have also entered the fray.
Since 2015, Amanatullah has won every election with a significant margin.
Meanwhile, Ariba Khan, currently a Congress Councillor from Shaheen Bagh, is contesting on the basis of developmental work. She is the daughter of former Okhla Congress leader Asif Md Khan, and her uncle, Arif Md Khan, is a BJP leader and the current Governor of Bihar.
Shifaur Rehman, currently in jail in connection with the Delhi riots case, is relying on a sympathy wave, while DU students’ leader Manish Chaudhry is seeking support based on development work. His wife, Nitu Chaudhry, has served as Councillor of Sarita Vihar for the last three terms.
