‘Madhyamam’, the Malayalam daily and mouthpiece of Jamaat-e-Islami, has labelled All India Imam Organisation head Umar Ahmed Ilyasi a ‘Saffron Mullah’ over his stand on the CJP protests. The newspaper has also targeted Muslim religious leaders who have urged the Muslim community to stay away from the agitations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to ‘Madhyamam’, these leaders maintained that the agitation had nothing to do with Muslims and that the community was being used for political motives. The newspaper described them as ‘Saffron Mullahs’ and accused them of taking pro-‘Sangh Parivar’ positions.
On October 9, in a video message, Umar Ahmed Ilyasi called on Muslims to refrain from the CJP agitations. He also warned that there are organisations that spoil the social fabric of the country. Several political parties have called on Muslims to participate in the CJP agitation. He urged Muslims and imams of mosques to refrain from the agitation. He said that anti-national forces are active and that it is everyone’s responsibility to protect the peace and unity of the country.
Muslims should refrain from participating in protests. Anti-national elements are attempting to disrupt peace & harmony in our country, and a major conspiracy is being orchestrated by such forces.
Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation.…
— Sajid Yousuf Shah (@TheSkandar) October 9, 2026
‘Madhyamam’ reported that Mouland Choudhary Ibrahim Hussein had supported Umar Ahmed Ilyasi’s call. He said that nobody should participate in activities detrimental to mutual brotherhood, peace and law and order.
According to ‘Madhyamam’, All India Muslim Jamaat national president Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said that protest is a right. However, he called on Muslim youths from Delhi and various districts of Uttar Pradesh to refrain from the CJP agitation. He pointed out that violent incidents had occurred during the CJP protests and that Muslims had faced hardships as a result. Although there is a right to protest, he said youths should remain vigilant in view of the violence.
The title of the ‘Madhyamam’ report is “Do not allow Muslims to be used; ‘Saffron Mullahs’ have come out to wreck the Jantar Mantar Agitation”.
