In a startling revelation, Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique has accused the party of religious bias, claiming he faced harassment within the organization due to his Muslim identity. Siddique, who was recently ousted as the president of the Mumbai Youth Congress, linked the alleged mistreatment to his father, Baba Siddique’s, exit from the Congress to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Expressing his disappointment, Siddique stated that despite his repeated assertions of remaining with the Congress, he faced repercussions, emphasizing that his father’s political choices should not affect his association with the party. He asserted that he received 90 percent of the votes in the Mumbai Youth Congress president’s election but experienced a considerable delay in his appointment.
Highlighting the broader issue, Siddique criticized the Congress for its treatment of minority leaders, alleging that names of Muslim leaders were overlooked for key positions within the party. He expressed concern over the party’s alliance with the Shiv Sena, especially when Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray praised the demolition of the Babri mosque.
The BJP responded to Siddique’s allegations, with leader Shehzad Poonawalla stating that his claims affirmed the BJP’s stance that the Congress exploits minorities for vote bank politics. Poonawalla accused the Congress of being anti-Muslim despite projecting itself as a supporter of minorities. The exit of several Maharashtra Congress leaders, including Milind Deora and Ashok Chavan, has raised questions about the party’s internal dynamics.
