New Delhi: Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi on Saturday raised concerns over being labelled solely as a “Muslim face” in politics, adding that he represents Congress as a youth leader rather than being confined to a religious identity. Speaking at the third edition of TV9 Network’s What India Thinks Today Global Summit 2025, he criticised both the media and opposition parties for restricting his political identity to his religion.
“I am Imran. Why am I only seen as a Muslim face? I am a young face of the party, a youth leader who speaks of new ideas. Then why am I framed in a particular way?” he questioned. He further accused the media and opposition parties of playing this narrative for political convenience.
‘Congress has always been a party for all’
Highlighting the Congress’s inclusive nature, Pratapgarhi challenged the perception that it represents any particular religion. “Congress has always been a party for all. You can pick any statement from Rahul Gandhi, starting from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, and Dr Manmohan Singh. Show me a single instance where the party declared itself as a party of any particular religion,” he asked.
“Has Congress ever pushed me to the forefront at Shaheen Bagh? No, it was the media that looked for such narratives. I am an alumnus of Allahabad University, I grew up by the banks of the Sangam. I have witnessed more Kumbh Melas than most people. Yet, when I sit here, the discussion is not about the issues I have raised in Parliament but about my religious identity,” he remarked.
Religious politics
Taking a dig at the BJP, Pratapgarhi accused the ruling party of deliberately crafting narratives that suit its political agenda, with the media playing along. “Why does the media fall for BJP’s propaganda? It should be clear about what is being fed to the public,” he said.
He also criticised the double standards in Indian politics regarding religious identity. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s temple visits, he questioned why the Congress leader is not given the title of “Hindu Hriday Samrat”, a term often used for BJP leaders.
“When Rahul Gandhi climbs hundreds of steps to visit Vaishno Devi or visits Kedarnath, why is he not called a Hindu Hriday Samrat? Priyanka Gandhi embarked on a Ganga Yatra, yet she was not associated with faith. Rahul Gandhi visits Mahakal, calls himself a great devotee of Lord Shiva, yet people do not see his faith as genuine,” he said, pointing out the selective narratives around religion in Indian politics.
