‘These boys committed no crime,’ Azmi told media on Wednesday. He accused detractors of exploiting the incident to demonize Muslims, amid what he sees as a national intolerance crisis. ‘The whole setup is after one community, aiming to wipe it out,’ he charged.

Azmi painted a vivid picture of Iftar celebrations: families stepping out for sumptuous meals in gardens, eateries, or social circles. ‘Why politicize this joy?’ he asked, rejecting any tolerance for such overreactions.

On the pollution angle, Azmi flipped the script. ‘Ganga is ours too. Look at its filthy state—who cleaned it? Hypocrites shouting now were silent before.’ Drawing from personal memory, he shared bathing in the river as a child in Prayagraj, emphasizing collective responsibility.

The episode underscores broader rifts, where religious observances clash with ecological concerns. Azmi’s unapologetic rhetoric challenges authorities to address real pollution culprits, not scapegoat minorities.

Recent municipal polls exposed deep flaws, according to Azmi. Voters in his locality found their names missing at booths despite being registered. ‘This is collusion to shrink non-BJP voter bases and maintain BJP’s image,’ he charged. While admitting the need to fix duplicate entries, he warned against partisan deletions.

Turning to matrimonial laws, Azmi critiqued Gujarat’s parental approval mandate for weddings. ‘Post-18, individuals have constitutional rights to choose partners. Yet parents worry over spiking interfaith marriages and divorces.’ He advocated dialogue over draconian rules.

Holi greetings came with a message of brotherhood. ‘Play colors joyfully, not to provoke. Festivals like Holi and Diwali should bind us, not divide.’

Azmi’s take on Kejriwal’s release was pragmatic. ‘Congratulations on getting out, but drop the smears. Congress leaders faced jail too. Real unity against divisive powers is needed to protect our democracy.’

Pushing for Ramzan relief, Azmi noted his repeated letters to the CM for half-day offs for fasting staff, emulating southern states. ‘Government hears but delays action.’

Law enforcement failures topped his concerns. ‘Fear of crime is vanishing amid brazen killings, like little Shifa’s murder in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar.’ Demanding expanded policing, new outposts, and tough measures, Azmi vowed to press these in the assembly.

Azmi, in an interview, pressed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to mirror policies from southern states. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, public sector workers get off by 4 PM to break their fasts and pray. ‘Maharashtra should follow suit for its Muslim employees,’ he insisted, noting the impending legislative session where such provisions would be crucial.

‘Ramadan is not just a festival; it’s a pillar of faith involving strict fasting from dawn to dusk,’ Azmi explained. His proposal aims to balance devotion with professional responsibilities, a nod to precedents set elsewhere in India.

Venturing into cultural controversies, Azmi slammed ‘The Kerala Story 2’ for peddling ‘love jihad’ myths. He advocated for lawful interfaith unions over cinematic fear-mongering. ‘Make movies that foster love across religions. Punish actual crimes through judiciary, not propaganda,’ he urged, calling on the Supreme Court to step in.

Azmi praised Gujarat’s parental approval mandate for weddings, viewing it as a prudent family-centric policy. On the AI Summit protests by Youth Congress, he decried police overreach, invoking Lohia’s wisdom: empty streets make parliament stray. Protest rights are democratic cornerstones.

This multi-faceted commentary from Azmi underscores tensions between tradition, modernity, and governance in India’s diverse landscape, with Ramadan relief at the forefront.

‘Let an outside agency probe the entire matter so the truth comes out,’ Azmi insisted, echoing Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s call but emphasizing impartiality. He reserved some of his sharpest barbs for the film, calling it nothing more than an exercise in hurting Muslims. ‘The country must run by the Constitution, not this whimsy that’s now overflowing like water over our heads,’ he stated bluntly.

Azmi highlighted Telangana’s progressive step of granting Ramadan breaks to Muslim staff, urging Maharashtra to learn from it. Addressing RSS head Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on population and infiltration, he retorted, ‘Have 30 children if you want—who’s stopping you? But since BJP has been in power since 2014, they must own up to border security failures and act against intruders.’

The abolition of the 5% Muslim quota drew particular ire. Azmi described the government as ‘hate-filled and communal,’ obsessed with majority polarization. He noted the 2014 Congress-NCP announcement was never properly executed via government resolution. ‘Instead of canceling a quota that was never given, deliver real justice to backward Muslim groups in traditional trades,’ he appealed.

These remarks underscore a broader narrative of minority discontent in Maharashtra, fueling calls for equitable policies and accountable leadership amid rising political rhetoric.

Recalling past controversies over Tipu’s jayanti, Azmi noted the 2024 Bombay High Court ruling permitting celebrations. He portrayed Tipu not just as a soldier but as a ‘mujahid of independence,’ whose ferocity against the British should be viewed through the lens of anti-colonial struggle. Demanding proof from detractors on temple demolition claims, Azmi highlighted Tipu’s progressive governance, where his domains boasted superior economies compared to Britain.

Historical records, according to Azmi, show Tipu funding and protecting temples, countering narratives of religious intolerance. He expressed dismay at rising incidents of religious site desecrations across India, pledging support for communal harmony. Regarding the portrait, Azmi dismissed objections as baseless, arguing it’s a personal choice in a private office.

Azmi didn’t shy away from broader critiques, referencing the Babri Masjid incident to question inconsistent historical accountability. He alleged governmental orchestration in amplifying such issues to divide voters. In lighter news, Azmi hailed India’s cricket triumph against Pakistan, quipping that it humbled their rivals and boosted national morale. His statement serves as a rallying cry against politicizing history, advocating for a cohesive society.

‘Muslims don’t feel fully secure,’ Azmi stated bluntly. ‘Beards and skullcaps invite trouble; their faith is interfered with. Post-2014, no talk of Muslim progress—only propaganda labeling them disloyal.’ He claimed a systematic effort to demonize the community as traitors.

Citing the recent assault on a Muslim passenger en route to Latur, he warned of normalized bias. ‘Hate has infected even decent folks since the current regime took hold—all for political gain.’

Addressing BMC Mayor Ritu Tawde’s crackdown on alleged Bangladeshi hawkers, Azmi reaffirmed Muslim contributions. ‘From freedom struggle to battlefields, Muslims have bled for India. Remember Allama Iqbal’s iconic poem praising our nation?’

Targeting infiltration claims, he challenged: ‘Delhi rulers secure borders—or issue documents to intruders? They enter freely under their rule, yet fingers point at opposition and Muslims.’

On Pakistan ties, Azmi was unequivocal: ‘Smash the hands that fuel terror within our borders. India dwarfs Pakistan in strength.’

Law and order drew sharp criticism too: ‘Fear of justice is gone. Offenders from killers to drug peddlers bank on corruption to escape. Daily crime spikes signal systemic rot.’

As debates rage, Azmi’s words highlight a nation grappling with identity, security, and unity challenges.

At its core, the dispute revolves around the Haj Committee’s statutory mandate. Established under a scheme tailored for Muslims, it ensures that Haj operations—from policy formulation to execution—respect Sharia principles and pilgrimage essentials. Azmi contends that installing a non-Muslim in a pivotal administrative post undermines this foundation, constituting an ultra vires act beyond legal authority.

He meticulously outlined how such a move defies the act’s intent for leadership to reside with knowledgeable Muslim committee members. This, Azmi warned, not only misuses power against the law but triggers constitutional violations under key articles guaranteeing equal protection, non-discrimination on religious grounds, freedom of religion, and denominational rights to administer institutions.

Judicial rulings have repeatedly affirmed that minority bodies deserve autonomy from state meddling, Azmi noted, bolstering his plea for revocation. The demand is clear: scrap the appointment and elevate a fitting Muslim from the elected ranks.

This isn’t just an administrative hiccup; it’s a flashpoint for larger issues of faith-based governance in secular India. As Fadnavis navigates coalition dynamics, Azmi’s outreach tests the government’s commitment to constitutional fidelity.

With full faith in the CM’s astute guidance, Azmi anticipates justice aligned with law and equity. The episode highlights persistent frictions in managing minority welfare committees, where tradition clashes with modern bureaucracy, keeping stakeholders on edge for the response.

In his complaint, Mhaske accused Azmi of making remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb that the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP claimed have offended religious sentiments.

In Thane, the FIR was registered at the Wagle Estate police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings and defamation. A police official confirmed that an investigation is underway.

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena members, led by functionary Kiran Pawaskar, submitted a written complaint at the Marine Drive Police Station, urging legal action against Azmi for his remarks. Authorities said that they are gathering detailed information about the MLA’s comments and will proceed in accordance with the law.

(With inputs from ANI)