Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi strongly responded today to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s controversial “Muslim Commissioner” remark, asserting that he believes in an India where individuals are recognized for their contributions—not their religion. He added, however, that “for some, religious identity remains a tool to advance hateful politics.”
Former CEC Chief accuses the NDA government of pushing propaganda
Quraishi, who served as Chief Election Commissioner from July 2010 to June 2012, had earlier criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it a “blatantly sinister and evil plan” aimed at grabbing Muslim-owned land. “I’m sure the Supreme Court will strike it down,” he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the government of pushing misinformation through what he called a “mischievous propaganda machine.”
Nishikant Dubey calls Qurashi a “Muslim Commissioner”
In response, Nishikant Dubey accused Quraishi of acting with religious bias during his tenure, stating, “You were not an Election Commissioner, you were a Muslim commissioner.” Dubey also claimed that during Quraishi’s time in office, the highest number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were registered as voters in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana region. He further added that Waqf land in India dated back to a time post-712 AD and originally belonged to Hindus, tribals, Jains, or Buddhists.
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Qureshi responds to Nishikant Dubey’s remarks
Quraishi, addressing the criticism, emphasized his lifelong commitment to public service and the Constitution. “I served as Election Commissioner with full dedication and had a long, fulfilling career in the IAS. I stand by the idea of an India that sees people for their abilities, not their faith,” he said, according to Press Trust of India.
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He concluded by reaffirming faith in India’s democratic values: “India has, is, and will always stand up for its constitutional institutions and principles.”
Earlier in the day, Quraishi had shared a pointed quote by George Bernard Shaw on X, seemingly aimed at his critics: “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
