Sharjeel Imam interview: ‘As an educated Muslim, it is my duty to enter the political domain’

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his oath of office in May 2014, an ailing Mohammad Akber Imam asked his son to leave the country, fearing that he would one day end up behind bars.

He passed away six months later. Sharjeel, the son he worried about, was studying modern history at the Jawaharlal Nehru University then. It took just about five years for his prophecy to come true.

Sharjeel Imam was arrested in January 2020 for delivering controversial speeches during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. Delhi Police subsequently made him an accused in its conspiracy case about the North East Delhi riots as well. The activist has spent over five years in prison so far.

Last month, Imam decided to contest the upcoming Assembly Elections in Bihar from the Bahadurganj seat. Scroll reached out to him through his lawyer and asked why he is entering the electoral fray. Imam shared a 13-page handwritten note in response to the questions.

Here is the full exchange.

Why do you want to contest the Bihar elections?

The most important reason for contesting elections is to bring to the fore our narrative on positive politics, that is, constructive conversation on minority rights and structural changes which are necessary to ensure dignified...

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