Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Mahua Moitra Takes Alleged Muslim Officer Exclusion Claims to UN
Mahua Moitra is a politician from the Trinamool Congress party.
She says three senior Muslim officers in West Bengal were kept out of some official events.
The events were connected to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits in July and August.
The officers named were Waquar Raza, Jawed Shamim and Khalil Ahmed.
Moitra believes their religion was the reason they were excluded.
She asked a United Nations expert who studies minority issues to examine the matter.
She also asked officials to preserve camera footage and records of the visits.
A police complaint was filed after she discussed the allegations publicly.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra wrote to UN Special Rapporteur Nicolas Levrat over alleged religious exclusion of three West Bengal officers.
She named IPS officers Waquar Raza and Jawed Shamim, and IAS officer Khalil Ahmed.
Moitra alleged the officers were asked to leave or barred from official events during Amit Shah’s July and August visits.
She said colleagues of other faiths were allowed to participate and described the incidents as deliberate exclusion.
Moitra requested a government explanation and preservation of CCTV footage, tour diaries and related records.
- Who
- TMC MP Mahua Moitra made the allegations, naming Waquar Raza, Jawed Shamim and Khalil Ahmed; the events involved Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- What
- Moitra alleged that three senior Muslim officers were excluded from official events and referred the matter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues.
- When
- The alleged incidents occurred during Amit Shah’s visits from July 17-19 and August 20-22; Moitra’s letter was dated September 16.
- Where
- West Bengal, including Siliguri and Calcutta.
- Why
- Moitra alleged the officers were excluded because of their religion and said this could undermine minority confidence in law-enforcement agencies.
Moitra’s allegations
Reported official response
Reason for exclusion
Moitra’s allegations
Moitra alleged that the three officers were excluded from meetings and protocol duties because they are Muslim, while colleagues of other faiths were allowed to participate.
Reported official response
The reports do not include responses from the officers named or a government explanation addressing the allegation.
Effect on minorities
Moitra’s allegations
Moitra said the alleged conduct could weaken minority communities’ confidence in the neutrality and security role of law-enforcement agencies.
Reported official response
No opposing assessment of the alleged impact was reported in the articles.
Requested investigation
Moitra’s allegations
Moitra asked the UN rapporteur to seek an explanation from the Government of India and requested preservation of relevant records.
Reported official response
The articles report that a police complaint was filed against Moitra after her public comments, but do not describe any completed inquiry into the underlying allegations.
- Complainant
- Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP
- UN recipient
- Nicolas Levrat, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
- Visiting official
- Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
- Officers named
- Waquar Raza, Jawed Shamim and Khalil Ahmed
- Alleged visit periods
- July 17-19 and August 20-22
- Requested records
- CCTV footage, tour diaries and other records
- Related action
- A police complaint was filed against Moitra, and she was summoned to Diamond Harbour Police Station
