Arunachal leader's 'Why is every terrorist a Muslim?' remark sparks mosque controversy
A heated exchange at Naharlagun's Jama Masjid has put the spotlight on religious identity and nationalism in Arunachal Pradesh.
Taro Sonam Liyak, head of the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Association (APIYO), stirred things up by asking the mosque's cleric, "Not every Muslim is a terrorist but why is every terrorist a Muslim?"—a comment that quickly went viral.
Dispute over chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'
The clash began when Liyak pressed the cleric to chant "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
The cleric politely declined, saying a person has "only one real mother," and instead offered to say "India Zindabad."
APIYO's campaign against unauthorized mosques
APIYO has been campaigning since October to remove what they call unauthorized mosques and madrasas in Itanagar and Naharlagun.
They allege that some Muslims in the region are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and want stricter checks, recognition of just two legal mosques, and demolition of unapproved structures.
Calls for citizenship checks
During the confrontation, Liyak also questioned the cleric's immigration status—echoing APIYO's demand for stricter checks on immigration status and documentation of suspected illegal migrants as part of their push against illegal immigration.