Arunachal Pradesh Mosque Imam Refuses to Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, Says “India Zindabad Is Enough” — Video Sparks Nationwide Debate
Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh | November 29, 2025 | DeccanLive.com
A video from a mosque in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, has gone viral on social media, showing two members of the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Association (APIYO) pressuring the mosque’s imam to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. The incident took place on 27 November inside the Jamia Masjid.
In the video, the two men — identified as APIYO General Secretary Tapur Meying and President Taro Sonam Liak — can be seen repeatedly forcing the imam to shout the slogan. However, the imam calmly refuses and says he can only say “India Zindabad”.
The imam explains, “India Zindabad is enough. I will not say Bharat Mata Ki Jai. A person has only one mother. My religion does not teach me to call the country my mother, but I love this land more than many others.”
Video Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F2jWNoNtk/
His polite and firm response is being appreciated across the country.
During the conversation, one of the APIYO members also makes provoking remarks about Muslims, which has sparked anger among people nationwide. Many have condemned the behaviour and questioned how anyone can force a citizen to prove patriotism.
Community leaders, tribal representatives and intellectuals from the region have also criticised APIYO’s actions. They say forcing someone to chant a slogan inside a mosque is not only against the law but also harmful for communal harmony in the state.
Legal experts have pointed out that checking someone’s identity or citizenship documents is the job of the police or government departments — not private groups.
APIYO has recently been running a campaign in the state in the name of stopping “illegal migration”. In the viral video, some members also question the imam’s identity and documents, which many believe is an attempt to intimidate the community.
Across social media, people are demanding strict action against those who entered the mosque and created fear. Many say that if such behaviour is not stopped immediately, it could set a dangerous example for the future.
According to media reports, including India Today, the police have not yet issued an official statement about the incident. This silence from authorities has led to growing public anger and calls for urgent action to restore peace and protect religious freedom.
