A dispute has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent remark that “Turks’ dominance will not continue.” A man from a backward Muslim community has accused members of the Turk community of stopping him and his family from leading prayers at a village mosque. He submitted a complaint to the District Magistrate on Friday (July 24) and sought action.
Mohammad Wasim, a resident of Madli Samspur village under Ainchoda Kamboh police station limits, said his family had been serving as imams at the village’s nearly 120-year-old mosque for many years.
Accuses Turk Community Members of Changing Old Tradition
Wasim said that some members of the Turk community tried to change the long-standing arrangement at the mosque. He claimed they stopped him and his family from leading prayers after they opposed the move. He also alleged that they threatened to force his family to leave the village.
According to Wasim, police helped both sides reach a settlement in 2024. The agreement allowed the old arrangement to continue, and both sides followed it for about 18 months. He claimed the dispute resurfaced later.
Seeks District Administration’s Intervention
Wasim said he belongs to the Dhune community, which falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC), while the accused belong to the Turk community.
He said that after Friday prayers on July 3, 2026, the accused told him they would not allow him to continue as imam unless he followed the new system they wanted to introduce.
Wasim named Atiq Ahmad, Shane Alam, Atiq Ahmad, Aamir, Bholu and Hafiz Maroof in his complaint. He asked the District Magistrate to order a fair inquiry, take action against those named, restore the earlier arrangement at the mosque and ensure the safety of his family.
