Indian Muslims for Civil Rights forms a 51-member panel to address legal and political issues of Muslims

New Delhi: Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) has formed a 51-member National Monitoring Committee comprising figures from the legal, political, religious and civil society sectors to pursue constitutional, legal and political remedies for issues affecting Indian Muslims.

The committee was formed following a resolution adopted at the National Convention of Muslim Leaders and Intellectuals held on July 24, 2026. Its members include people with backgrounds in law, politics, social work, religious institutions and civil rights.

The announcement was made at a press conference in New Delhi attended by several members of the committee. They said the panel would work through democratic and constitutional mechanisms on issues involving civil rights, constitutional safeguards, political representation and other concerns affecting the Muslim community.

The committee also plans to visit areas facing what it describes as crises and challenges, with the aim of engaging directly with local communities and civil society groups.

At its 24th meeting, the committee decided that Uttarakhand would be the first state to be visited, citing its proximity to Delhi and concerns affecting the state. A delegation subsequently travelled to Dehradun, where it held meetings with civil society representatives and Muslim political, social and religious leaders from across Uttarakhand.

The first meeting was held with prominent members of Uttarakhand’s civil society. Discussions focused on the prevailing situation in the state and concerns affecting different sections of society. Senior Congress leader Gurdeep Sapal was also present.

A second meeting brought together representatives of Uttarakhand’s Muslim community, including political, social and religious leaders. The delegation discussed issues affecting the community as well as the broader political and social situation in the state.

Speaking at the press conference, former Union minister Salman Khurshid said the initiative was intended to bring together people from different backgrounds and assert the rights of Indian citizens.

“This movement has brought everyone together and this is a presentation from the Muslims of India. We are not here to beg, but to show that every citizen of this country has their own rights,” Khurshid said.

“We are here to show that we all have our rights despite the diversity we carry in various aspects of the country. The rights equate all of us. We also want to invite all people to join us and work with us matching shoulder to shoulder. We are here to contribute to a larger issue happening in India,” he added.

Do watch our exclusive interview and exchange with former foreign minister Salman Khurshid. The interview was conducted by NNP Correspondent Shoaib Malik Azad.

Mohammad Adeeb said the initiative was not intended to compete with or oppose existing Muslim organisations and described its focus as political rather than religious.”I heard some journalists ask whether this movement is against the Personal Law Board or the Jamaat. On matters of Sharia, we are under the Personal Law Board and follow its guidance. Our work is within the political sphere,” Adeeb said.

“This organisation is not against anyone. Rather, it seeks to bring everyone together and work collectively,” he added.

Nadeem Khan said the committee was being formed against a backdrop of what he described as a series of concerns affecting Muslims in different parts of India. “Across the country, we are witnessing demolitions, displacement, pushbacks and attacks on places of worship, with Muslims disproportionately affected,” Khan said.

He cited developments in Assam, where he said thousands of families had been displaced, as well as concerns over an ongoing “pushback” exercise involving people who may be Indian citizens.Khan also referred to incidents involving dargahs and mosques in Gujarat’s Kutch region and parts of Rajasthan, saying the incidents pointed to what he described as a wider institutional challenge.

“Alongside our legal interventions, including matters concerning the Kurnoola Mahapanchayat, SIR and Form 7, our teams have continued working on the ground, documenting incidents of violence and engaging with affected communities,” he said.

Syed Sadatullah Hussaini described the committee as the beginning of a wider campaign and said it would include representatives from different sections of the Muslim community.

“This marks the beginning of a major campaign and an important moment. It is a committee representing Muslims from across the country, bringing together everyone, including leaders and the youth,” Hussaini said.

He said the committee would continuously monitor developments and intervene where necessary. “Its work will not be limited to the Muslim community, but will be for the country as a whole,” he said.

Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari, speaking about the situation in Assam, said tensions between Hindus and Muslims were less significant than disputes linked to language and identity. “There is Hindu-Muslim tension less compared to the language issues. The eviction in Assam is confined to Bengali Muslims. There is a barrier between Assamese and Bengali Muslims. We stand with both the parties fairly, not partially,” Ansari said.

SQR Ilyas said the committee was being established at a time when many Muslims felt increasingly targeted by government policies and actions. “At this moment, the situation Indian Muslims are going through makes it seem that Muslims are being particularly targeted and cornered,” Ilyas said.

He raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, comparing it with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and alleged that Muslim names could be removed from voter lists. “The SIR appears to be another form of NRC, through which Muslim names are being removed from the electoral rolls,” he said.

Ilyas also criticised the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in BJP-ruled states and referred to incidents of lynching and alleged attacks on religious seminaries. “Lynching was already taking place, but now even religious seminaries are coming under attack,” he said. He also questioned the renewed debate over Vande Mataram, saying it was being used to create pressure on sections of society.

“Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians must all come together. Everyone’s participation is needed. We, too, stand with everyone,” Ilyas said.

The programme was moderated by Azam Beg, secretary of IMCR.

The formation of the National Monitoring Committee follows the collective decision taken at the July 24 convention, where Muslim leaders and intellectuals discussed the need for a sustained and organised response to issues they said were affecting constitutional rights and legal protections.

According to the organisation, the committee will identify issues requiring intervention, examine available constitutional and legal remedies, engage with relevant institutions and pursue appropriate democratic and political avenues.

The initiative also includes a wider organisational structure. In addition to the 51 members of the National Monitoring Committee, 10 secretaries have been appointed to help oversee and coordinate the issues taken up by the panel.

The committee’s formation comes as Muslim organisations and civil society groups continue to debate questions surrounding political representation, civil rights, religious freedom and the implementation of government policies in different parts of India.

The panel has said its approach will remain within constitutional and democratic frameworks, with its members expected to coordinate legal interventions, engage with institutions and visit communities affected by local disputes or policy decisions.

Its first field visit to Uttarakhand is expected to serve as a model for similar engagements in other states, with the committee seeking to combine legal and political action with direct interaction with affected communities.

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