Muslim groups urge Congress to nominate Umar Khalid to Rajya Sabha

Jaipur: A group of Muslim organisations in Rajasthan has called on the Congress party to consider jailed anti-CAA activist Umar Khalid as its nominee for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections, saying such a decision would help correct the lack of Muslim representation from the state in Parliament while underscoring the party’s stance on civil liberties, according to a Times of India report.

In a joint representation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the groups highlighted that Muslims constitute roughly 9–10% of Rajasthan’s population, but none of the state’s 35 Members of Parliament, including its Rajya Sabha representatives, belong to the community. They said Khalid’s candidature could help amplify concerns related to constitutional rights and minority representation.

Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader, has been in jail since 2020 in connection with the Delhi riots case. Supporters backing his nomination described him as a prominent voice on civil liberties and minority rights, stating that his presence in the Rajya Sabha would bring attention to issues affecting marginalised communities.

The representation also underscored the Congress party’s reliance on Muslim voters in the state. It noted that Muslims accounted for a significant share of votes in recent elections, including the 2023 Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but said this support has not been reflected in candidate selection. In the 200-seat Assembly elections, the party fielded only 15 Muslim candidates, and none were nominated for Lok Sabha seats from Rajasthan.

The representation further pointed out that several senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Govind Singh Dotasra and Tikaram Jully, have secured victories from constituencies with substantial Muslim populations.

The appeal comes ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections due in June, with three seats from Rajasthan set to fall vacant. Based on the current Assembly strength, the BJP is expected to win two seats, while the Congress is likely to secure one.