Jharkhand Minister Sparks Row with ‘Shariat First, Then Constitution’ Remark, Issues Clarification
Jharkhand Minority Welfare Minister Hafizul Hasan sparked controversy after claiming Shariat holds primacy over the Constitution for Muslims, later clarifying that both are equally important.
Hafizul Hasan, Jharkhand’s Minority Welfare Minister, found himself at the centre of a political firestorm on Monday after a video emerged of him saying, “In Islam, first it is Shariat, then the Constitution.” The video was shared by the state BJP unit and quickly went viral.
“Shariat hamare liye bada hai. Hum Quran seene mein rakhte hain aur haath me samvidhaan,” Hasan said, suggesting that religious law holds precedence over the country’s foundational legal document.
Facing growing criticism, Hasan issued a clarification later in the day, stating that his words were misunderstood. “I had said that Shariat is in my heart and Babasaheb’s Constitution is in my hand. Both are equally important,” he told reporters.
He also expressed gratitude towards Dr BR Ambedkar, saying, “We come from financially backward communities. He gave reservations to us and that’s why we have progressed.”
The Jharkhand BJP reacted sharply to Hasan’s remarks, accusing him of prioritising religious laws over India’s Constitution. “For those who have Shariat in their hearts, the doors of Pakistan and Bangladesh are open,” the party posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Uttar Pradesh minister and NDA ally Sanjay Nishad also attacked Hasan, saying, “Those who want to follow Shariat should go to Pakistan. Visas will be made for them to go there.”
He further asserted that the Indian government has empowered Muslims through welfare schemes and employment opportunities.
Shariat, or Islamic law, is a set of moral and religious principles derived from the Quran and Hadith, commonly practiced in several Muslim-majority countries. In India, personal laws based on religion exist alongside the Constitution.
This latest controversy comes amid ongoing political discourse around the Uniform Civil Code, secularism, and the role of religion in governance.
The controversy is likely to intensify in the run-up to the general elections, with BJP and NDA leaders expected to continue raising the issue as part of their campaign narrative. Hasan’s remarks have also sparked a renewed debate on the balance between religious identity and constitutional values in Indian politics.
