BJP’s (Bharatiya Janata Party) minority morcha is turning out to be a liability and embarrassment for the party as many involved in criminal activities have come to be associated with the minority cell or its leaders.

BJP minority morcha leader’s son involved in criminal activities

A BJP minority morcha leader’s brother and son in Madhya Pradesh (MP) were found (Tweet archived here) to be involved in criminal activities including love jihad. A major inter-state synthetic drug racket busted in Bhopal exposed a disturbing nexus involving political connections, illegal drug distribution, and possible cases of sexual exploitation. The operation, led by Madhya Pradesh police in July 2025, resulted in the arrest of six individuals, including Shahwar Ahmad (42) and his nephew Yasin Ahmad (25), both relatives of Shafiq Ahmad, a state executive member of the BJP’s minority morcha. Shahwar is Shafiq’s brother and Yasin his son.

The racket was uncovered after initial arrests of two peddlers, Saifuddin and Ashu alias Shahrukh Khan. During interrogation, it was revealed that drugs, mainly MDMA, were being distributed through gyms, clubs, and parties, disguised as supplements or mental health medication. Police also found that some doctors issued fake prescriptions for mephedrone, a banned synthetic stimulant, further complicating the trail.

Yasin Ahmad, who appears to have played a central role in the distribution network, was arrested from Shahpura. Police recovered a country-made pistol, MD drugs, ₹30,000 in cash, a luxury SUV, and multiple mobile phones. Among the digital evidence were several obscene videos of women, some allegedly recorded without consent. Authorities suspect the videos were used for blackmail and sextortion. Investigations are ongoing to identify the women and verify whether consent was obtained.

Following his arrest, Yasin was also booked for rape. A 29-year-old woman filed an FIR accusing him of sexually exploiting her under the false promise of marriage. According to the complaint, she met Yasin at a nightclub in mid-2024. Over several months, he allegedly abused her physically and mentally and later threatened her when she questioned his intentions. Although her videos were not found in the seized phones, the woman stepped forward after learning of Yasin’s arrest through media reports.

Police have also arrested another accused, a history-sheeter named Murtaza, who was allegedly handling the financial transactions related to the drug business. His arrest has added another layer to the probe, which now involves illegal arms, drug trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime.

Officials are currently examining whether the drug operation had any links with organized crime syndicates or international suppliers. BJP leaders have distanced themselves from the accused, stating that the law should take its course irrespective of political affiliations. This case has sent shockwaves through Bhopal’s social and political circles, revealing how deep-rooted and organized synthetic drug networks have become and how they often intersect with power, privilege, and predatory behavior.

Although BJP leaders have distanced themselves from the incident, it raises the larger question of how the minority morcha is turning out to be an embarassment for the party. Another important point to be noted is that in India minority automatically translates to Muslims despite the fact that it is the second largest population group in Bharat.

Some other incidents of involvement of BJP minority morcha leaders in criminal activities:

In September 2023, Rahi Masoom Raza, then District President of the BJP’s Minority Morcha in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, was expelled from the party after allegations emerged linking him to the rape of a Dalit girl and murder of her father. The victim’s family alleged that when the father objected, he was assaulted, later succumbing to injuries. A police constable was also arrested for accepting a ₹9 lakh bribe to shield the leader from prosecution.

In June 2023, Assam BJP Minority Morcha member Ansarul Haque Chowdhury was arrested in Hailakandi district on charges of the fraudulent job scheme. He allegedly extracted around ₹5 lakh from a villager by falsely promising government jobs, claiming influence through pictures with the Chief Minister and other BJP ministers. A case was registered under several sections of the IPC, including cheating and breach of trust. His position in the party committee was under review.

BJP dissolves minority morcha in Assam

In 2021, BJP dissolved its minority morcha in Assam after electoral losses in Muslim-majority regions. Despite winning a comfortable overall majority the party failed to win any additional seats beyond Sonai in Muslim-dominated areas. Of the eight Muslim candidates it fielded, all lost badly, with vote shares ranging as low as 2 %–6 % in key constituencies such as Jania, Jaleswar, Baghbar, and Bilasipara West.

Reacting swiftly, the Assam state BJP leadership, under president Ranjit Kumar Dass, issued an order dissolving the entire Minority Morcha structure—including state, district, mandal, and booth-level committees—for an indefinite period. A top party official reportedly noted that in some booth-level committees with 20–21 members, not even 20 actual votes were polled for the party, illustrating the futility of the existing setup.

Media coverage and political analysts interpreted the decision as a clear signal of the BJP’s recalibration strategy. Following the debacle, CM Sarbananda Sonowal and later Himanta Biswa Sarma (who became CM in May 2021) acknowledged the polarisation in voting patterns and underscored the need for a development-focused outreach rather than token representation.

Party needs to get rid of this liability

Admittedly no party can be absolutely clean but for a party that prides itself on being different, BJP needs to get rid of tags that serve no purpose. In fact, many criminal elements take advantage by attaching themselves to the party. Instead BJP should aim to provide platform to more Dharmic and indigenous groups. The failed ‘Sabka Vishwas’ project shows that appeasement never works. This is not just true for Muslims but even for Chrisitans who believe BJP to be an ‘enemy’ promoting Hindutva. ‘Minority’ (read Muslim) votes cannot be brought by trading the society’s well-being and the country’s security. Hightime for BJP to bite the bullet and disband its minority morcha!