Award-winning Urdu poet dropped from UP mushaira list over 'anti-Modi, anti-Yogi remarks'

Following strong protests from the BJP's local unit in Meerut, the district administration requested the removal of award-winning Urdu poetess Shabeena Adeeb from the list of invitees to the renowned 'All India Mushaira,' citing "law and order issues." The decision was made on the eve of the event. Members of the ruling party in Meerut had accused Adeeb of making "anti-Modi and anti-Yogi remarks" in the past, and her support for anti-CAA protesters in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh locality reportedly aggravated their concerns.

BJP district president Suresh Jain Rituraj told TOI, "A controversial video of Adeeb has emerged, leading us to suspect that her presence could pose a threat to the law and order situation in Meerut. We communicated our concerns to the administration, and they acted to prevent her attendance."

Chief Development Officer (CDO) Nupur Goel stated, "If the presence of an individual creates a law and order problem, we must address it."


On Friday, the BJP's Meerut unit spokesperson, Amit Sharma, organised a "meeting" chaired by the district president and mayor to protest before the additional municipal commissioner against Adeeb's participation in the event. The meeting was later called off.

Dr. Mairajuddin Ahmed, a member of the organising committee, speculated that the resentment likely stemmed from some of the 'nazm' (poetry verses) Adeeb recited at a mushaira 15 years ago.

"Poets do not consider the outcomes of their words when they write. This is not the first time poets have addressed societal concerns, as it happened during the independence movement as well," he said.

He also mentioned that Shabeena Adeeb informed them she was unwell and unable to attend the event. Adeeb was unavailable for comment.

Inputs from TOI