False case filed against senior social activist, ‘Sarvodya’ leader and journalist Islam Hussain for voicing dissent against ruling dispensation
False case filed against senior social activist, ‘Sarvodya’ leader and journalist Islam Hussain for voicing dissent against ruling dispensation
S.M.A. KAZMI
Dehradun, Jan 7
Uttarakhand police which has yet to file cases against right wing hate mongers who are targeting Muslims and other minorities, physically and on various social media platforms throughout the state, has instead filed a FIR against Islam Hussain, a senior Sarvodya leader on the complaint of a ‘Gau Rakshak’. Haldwani police has filed the case against social activist, senior journalist, and president of Uttarakhand Sarvodaya Mandal, Islam Hussain, which is being condemned by civil society and left parties particularly Communist Party (ML).
Interestingly, the case has been registered based on a complaint filed by self-proclaimed cow vigilantes at the Haldwani police station on January 4, 2025. The alacrity with which the police registered the case without thorough investigation shows that this case is completely biased and aimed at suppressing dissenting voices.He was on the target since he raised his voice against police atrocities after the Banphoolpura police firing incident in which six persons lost their lives in February 2024.
Islam Hussain has always worked for social harmony and the interests of the poor in a constitutional and democratic manner. His work has always been an eyesore for people with a ‘Sangh Parivar’ mindset. It is these people from this hate-mongering group who have filed a case against him. The CPI (ML) Nainital District Committee in a statement said that the filing of a case against him is an attack on the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
It is noteworthy that Islam Hussain’s alleged crime was that the speech he gave at Uttarakhand Open University on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2025, was allegedly “religiously provocative, contained false statements, disturbed peace, was malicious, and hurt the religious sentiments of a class and individuals”. However, none of the professors, other scholars, journalists, employees, and other people present in the auditorium of Uttarakhand Open University who gathered to listen to Islam Hussain’s speech raised any objection or question him about his speech. No complaint was filed by the Uttarakhand Open University authorities.
“But the sudden filing of this case three months after the speech indicates that all this has been done under a specific political conspiracy. It is clear that the prompt registration of a case against a social activist based on a complaint by self-proclaimed cow vigilantes, whose religious conduct and knowledge are also questionable, is undoubtedly a political vendetta by the BJP government, which is totally unacceptable,” said Dr. Kailash Pandey, CPI (ML) Nainital district secretary.
The CPI (ML) also appealed to all left-wing, progressive, and democratic people to stand in solidarity with Islam Hussain, a senior citizen, social activist, and journalist who is battling cancer and other serious illnesses, and who has been continuously fighting for social harmony. The party demands that the FIR registered against Islam Hussain be quashed.
Dr. Kailash Pandey said that the police should act in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and should not show eagerness to implicate individuals who disagree with the BJP state government or those who protest against police brutality, or those who hold different ideologies, in false cases. Therefore, the false case registered against Islam Hussain with political motives should be immediately and unconditionally withdrawn.
