TMC MP Mahua Moitra has filed a complaint with the UN over Amit Shah’s official programmes in West Bengal. She has alleged that Muslim IAS and IPS officers were excluded from the events on the basis of their religion.
Moitra sent a letter to UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Professor Nicholas Levrat. She said three senior officers were either removed from or prevented from attending programmes during Shah’s visits to the state in July and August.
According to Moitra, officers from other religions were allowed to attend the events. PTI reported that the claims could not be independently verified.
Letter claims Muslim officers excluded from July, August events
Moitra wrote the letter to Professor Nicholas Levrat, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues under the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). She alleged that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers were excluded from events on three occasions.
The incidents took place during Amit Shah’s visits to West Bengal in July and August. Moitra said counterparts from other religions were allowed to attend the events.
She wrote in the letter, “The one thing common to all three officers, and which distinguishes them from their colleagues who were allowed to remain at the event, is their religion.”
Mahua names 3 officers in letter
Moitra named Siliguri Police Commissioner Waqar Raza, West Bengal Police Special Task Force chief Javed Shamim and senior IAS officer Khalil Ahmed.
She described the incidents as a pattern of “deliberate exclusion”. Moitra said such treatment could affect the trust and sense of security among minority communities.
Appeals for response from Indian government
The TMC leader urged the Special Rapporteur to seek information from the Indian government on the reasons for excluding the officers and the authority responsible for it. She also sought preservation of CCTV footage, tour diaries and other records related to Amit Shah’s visits.
Moitra cited provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in her complaint.
Moitra had tweeted about the matter a few days ago. A police complaint was subsequently filed against her, and she was summoned to the Diamond Harbour police station.
