News
On the first day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) demanded a discussion on the recent violent clashes in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in at least five deaths and injuries to over 20 police personnel. The unrest followed a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, amid allegations that the mosque was originally a temple.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi submitted an adjournment notice to address the incident. Referring to the deaths of three youths allegedly killed in police firing on Saturday (24 Nov), Owaisi urged Parliament to debate the use of police force during protests. He stated, "They were exercising their fundamental right to assemble and protest under Article 19(1). This issue is of urgent public importance and the abuse of police powers against citizens must be discussed."
Members from the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), including Javed Ali Khan, Hussain, and Haris Beeran, also submitted notices seeking a debate on the issue. Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav called the incident "unfortunate" and confirmed his party's intention to raise the matter in both Houses of Parliament. Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq termed the violence "pre-planned," accusing the ruling dispensation of targeting the Muslim community.
The matter briefly echoed in the Lok Sabha (House of the People, lower house), but the session was adjourned without a debate.