‘You Were Muslim Commissioner’: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Targets Ex-CEC Quraishi Over Waqf Act Criticism

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey criticised ex-Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi for his criticism of the Waqf Act, alleging that Quraishi acted as a "Muslim commissioner" and facilitated voter fraud.

By : ABP Live News | Updated at : 20 Apr 2025 09:24 PM (IST)

File Photo of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey
Source : PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, already under fire for his remarks against Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, launched a fresh attack on Sunday—this time targeting former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi. Dubey accused Quraishi of acting not as an election commissioner but as a “Muslim commissioner,” reacting to the latter’s sharp criticism of the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Quraishi, who had taken to social media platform X on 17 April, alleged, “Wakf Act is undoubtedly a blatantly sinister evil plan of the govt to grab Muslim lands. I’m sure SC will call it out. Misinformation by the mischievous propaganda machine has done its job well.”

Responding on Sunday, Dubey said, “You were not an election commissioner, you were a Muslim commissioner. The maximum number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were made voters in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand during your tenure.” He further stated that Prophet Muhammad’s Islam arrived in India in 712 AD and that the lands under Waqf before that belonged to Hindus, tribals, Jains or Buddhists associated with those faiths.

Referring to his native village, the four-term MP from Godda in Jharkhand said, “My village Vikramshila was burnt down by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1189, and the Vikramshila University gave the world its first vice chancellor in Atish Dipankar.” Urging people to read history, he added, “Unite this country, read history. Pakistan was created by dividing it. There will be no partition now.”

Nishikant Dubey Mounts Attack On Supreme Court

Dubey’s remarks came a day after his sharp criticism of the Supreme Court prompted his party to distance itself from the comments. On Saturday, Dubey had launched a scathing attack on the judiciary, questioning the apex court’s role in lawmaking. Citing Article 368 of the Constitution, he said lawmaking was the prerogative of Parliament, while the role of the Supreme Court was to interpret the laws.

“If the Supreme Court is going to make laws, then the Parliament building should be shut down,” Dubey posted on X in Hindi.

In remarks to news agency PTI, Dubey accused the court of encroaching upon legislative powers by striking down laws passed by Parliament and even giving directions to the President, who, he noted, is the appointing authority for Supreme Court judges.

His comments came after the Centre assured the apex court that it would not implement certain contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act until the next hearing. The Supreme Court is currently hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Act, passed by Parliament in the first week of April.

Dubey criticised the court for demanding documentary proof in temple-related cases like the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya but allegedly not applying the same standard in the Waqf matter.

He also cited earlier Supreme Court judgments—such as the decriminalisation of consensual homosexuality under Section 377 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and the striking down of Section 66A of the IT Act—as examples of judicial overreach. He claimed, “The court decriminalised homosexuality despite all religions considering it wrong,” and said Section 66A was necessary to curb online misuse.

Condemning Dubey's remarks on Sunday, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh told news agency ANI, "BJP has sidelined themselves from the statements made by Nishikant Dubey, saying it is his personal opinion and not the party's... If BJP is honest, it should immediately suspend Nishikant Dubey from the party. Why are they not doing that? It is because they are all involved in it... An MP giving such a huge statement on the SC, it is a case of defamation of the SC and a suo-motto contempt should be imposed on him..."

The Supreme Court’s recent directive to the President to act within a specific timeline on bills passed by Parliament has triggered further controversy. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has strongly criticised the judgement and reiterated his disapproval of the 2015 ruling that struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have welcomed the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of the Waqf Act and the directive issued to the President.

The ongoing debate over judicial accountability has also been reignited following the recovery of a large amount of cash from an outhouse at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, recently transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court.

Also read
Advocate Seeks Contempt Action Against Nishikant Dubey Over Remarks Against SC, CJI

Who Is Nishikant Dubey, The BJP Leader Who Has Launched Attack On SC

Published at : 20 Apr 2025 09:01 PM (IST)
Tags :
Nishikant Dubey BJP Supreme Court Waqf Act Sanjiv Khanna CJI Sanjiv Khanna Waqf (Amendment) Act Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 Waqf Act Row

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