SDPI Demands Apology and Resignation of Amit Shah for Communal Remarks

Yasmin Farooqui, National General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India, strongly condemns the statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 1, 2025, in Kolkata. In his remarks, Shah accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of opposing Operation Sindoor to appease the Muslim vote bank. Such a statement not only maligns Mamata Banerjee but also unfairly stereotypes Indian Muslims, casting aspersions on their patriotism without any credible evidence.

This inflammatory rhetoric fosters enmity between religious communities and undermines the spirit of unity and secularism enshrined in our Constitution. It warrants an immediate public apology and legal accountability. Contrary to Shah’s insinuations, Indian Muslims have not opposed Operation Sindoor—in fact, the operation has received broad-based support from all communities. The claim that Indian Muslims sympathize with Pakistan is a dangerous and baseless stereotype that only serves to malign a community that has always been an integral part of India.

Shah’s remarks appear to violate Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes actions that promote hatred between different religious groups. Furthermore, while made outside a formal election period, such communal rhetoric undermines the spirit of the Model Code of Conduct and sets a troubling precedent in the lead-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

We demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah issue an unconditional public apology for his reckless and divisive remarks. We further call for his resignation from the post of Home Minister and urge appropriate legal action to address this serious breach of communal harmony.

We call for an immediate end to divisive and communal rhetoric. We urge the Election Commission of India to proactively monitor pre-election discourse and appeal to citizens to reject narratives that seek to divide our society along religious lines.