Doval Meets Muslim Leaders, Stresses Unity Before Bengal Polls
NSA Ajit Doval Meets Eminent Muslims (Image X.com)
Interaction at PMO signals renewed outreach as key community voices call for equality and trust-building before crucial West Bengal elections
By NIRENDRA DEV
New Delhi, April 25, 2026 — In a significant outreach ahead of crucial elections, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met a group of eminent members of the Muslim community and underscored the importance of unity, saying, “India is a ship — we all sail together, or we sink together.”
The interaction took place at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), where a 14-member delegation comprising industrialists, educationists, activists, and professionals engaged in a detailed discussion on nation-building and inclusivity.
According to businessman and educationist Zafar Sareshwala, who led the delegation, Doval patiently listened to each participant for nearly 90 minutes before outlining his vision for a stronger and united India.
“Doval listened to every one of us patiently,” Sareshwala told media, adding that the NSA emphasised religious harmony and collective responsibility.
Members of the delegation stressed the need for a level playing field. “We said neither Muslims should be discriminated against nor should they get any special treatment,” Sareshwala noted, calling the meeting a “positive sign” from the government.
He added that the engagement marked “just the beginning” of a continued dialogue between the government and community representatives.
Among those present were prominent figures including Faruk Patel of KP Group, industrialists Inamulhaq Iraki and Ibrarulhaq Iraki, Juned Shariff of Niton Valves, Zaffar Lari of GLS Switchgear, Dawoodi Bohra leader Jamaat Altaf Sadikot, Anjuman-I-Islam president Zahir Kazi, and Haj Committee of India chairperson Kausar Jahan.
Also part of the delegation were environmental activist Saher Bhamla, AIIMS doctor Nishat Hussain, Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor Naima Khatoon, and journalist Samina Shaikh.
The timing of the meeting is politically significant, coming just days before the final phase of polling in West Bengal, where Muslim voters are expected to play a decisive role.
While the direct electoral impact remains uncertain, the outreach signals an attempt to engage with influential voices within the community at a crucial juncture.
This is not the first such engagement. In 2022, a group of Muslim intellectuals met Mohan Bhagwat to discuss sensitive inter-community issues. The delegation had included prominent figures like former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Qureshi, former AMU Vice-Chancellor Zamiruddin Shah, and former Delhi LG Najeeb Jung.
That meeting was seen as a step towards addressing communal tensions and fostering dialogue between communities.
Doval’s message — “we sail or sink together” — reinforces the idea of collective national responsibility, placing unity at the centre of India’s socio-political discourse at a time of heightened electoral and societal stakes.
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