"Hindus are no longer a majority in India": Sajjad Nomani's viral speech triggers controversy; video viral
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Nomani said that the commonly accepted understanding of India"s Hindu population is misleading.
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Senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani, has courted controversy after claiming that Hindus are no longer a majority in India when various caste, tribal and regional identities are considered separately.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Nomani said that the commonly accepted understanding of India's Hindu population is misleading. He argued that communities such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Lingayats, people of Tamil Nadu and even some sections of the Jat community should not be counted within the broader Hindu fold.
_202606191149338799_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_700.jpg "Sajjad Nomani newsbharati")
"I place my hand on Hajr-e-Aswad and the cover of the Kaaba and say that Hindus are a minority in India. Under no circumstances can Hindus be considered a majority," Nomani said in the speech.
During his address, Nomani said Muslims had historically divided Hindus into "secular" and "fascist" categories and relied on secular Hindus for political support, but claimed that both groups had ultimately failed the Muslim community.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Nomani said that the commonly accepted understanding of India's Hindu population is misleading. He argued that communities such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Lingayats, people of Tamil Nadu and even some sections of the Jat community should not be counted within the broader Hindu fold.
The cleric further claimed that Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists are separate religious groups, while tribal communities should not be classified as Hindus because they are the original inhabitants of the country. He also alleged that sections of the Jat community have recently begun identifying themselves as non-Hindus.
During his address, Nomani said Muslims had historically divided Hindus into "secular" and "fascist" categories and relied on secular Hindus for political support, but claimed that both groups had ultimately failed the Muslim community.
Maulana At Islamic Summit in India 🇮🇳
— Dear Men (@Dear_Men_Life) June 18, 2026
"Hindus are no more in Majority"
"SC + Tribals+ Tamils + Lingayats = are Non Hindus"
"We Divided Hindus into Secular and Fascists, But Both hurted our cause"
"JAATs are now calling they are Not Hindus"
🤡 pic.twitter.com/oBnWKix2fu
The remarks were made during the concluding session of the Millat Times Conclave 2026, organised on February 2 at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi to mark the media house's 10th anniversary. The event was attended by several political leaders and public figures, including Congress leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar, Salman Khurshid, Imran Pratapgarhi, Samajwadi Party leader Iqra Hasan Chaudhary, and BJP leader Yasir Jilani.
According to Nomani, his observations were based on nearly three decades of travel and study of religious, caste and tribal identities across India. Although the speech was delivered in February, the video resurfaced on social media on June 18 and quickly drew widespread criticism and debate over his remarks on Hindu demographics and identity.
Notably, Nomani had made similar controversial remarks on May 20, asking the Islamic community members to politically dominate the Hindu majority community in India by giving them an invitation to convert to Islam. He stated that people who call themselves Hindus are not even Hindus and never originally belonged to that community.
Maulana was speaking at a Q&A session conducted by Hujjat ul Islam Academy, Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband. He stated during the session that the invitation to accept Islam to non-Muslims should only be given after considering the political circumstances.
Maulana was speaking at a Q&A session conducted by Hujjat ul Islam Academy, Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband. He stated during the session that the invitation to accept Islam to non-Muslims should only be given after considering the political circumstances.
"Even the Prophet gave the invitation to the faith while keeping political situations in mind. In India, Dalits, Adivasis, Sikhs, and Buddhists were made Hindus even though they were not originally Hindus. Alliances should be formed with these people so that minorities can politically dominate the majority, and then the invitation to the faith can be given," he said. Full news report regarding this can be read here.