‘Yogi tortured me’: Huda Zariwala and Syeda Hameed clash during panel discussion over UP mosque row

A recent viral video from a panel discussion has drawn widespread attention after former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson and YouTuber Huda Zariwala clashed with former planning commission member Syeda Saiyidain Hameed in a heated exchange over the Uttar Pradesh mosque demolition row.

During the discussion, Zariwala repeatedly spoke about her recent experiences with the Uttar Pradesh authorities. While making her point, she alleged, “Yogi tortured me,” referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the action taken by the authorities against her.

As Zariwala continued speaking, Syeda Hameed, who infamously said in 2025 that Bangladeshis can live in Assam because Allah made the earth for humans and they are also humans, interrupted Huda Zariwala several times. She was seen gesturing towards the other panellists and asking Zariwala to stop and focus on the main topic. Hameed also reminded her, “There is a panel here.”

Zariwala appeared frustrated by the interruptions and asked to be allowed to finish her point. “What is this? Allow me to complete,” she said during the exchange.

The video has surfaced amid controversy surrounding Zariwala’s arrest in Uttar Pradesh over objectionable comments she made against CM Yogi Adityanath and the administration in connection with the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur.

Why was Huda Zariwala arrested?

On 7th September, Zariwala reached the Circuit House in Saharanpur to protest against the demolition of a mosque located on the Collectorate premises. She insisted on entering the Circuit House, where she was arrested by the authorities.

The action followed her objectionable comments against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Saharanpur’s district administration.

Earlier, while speaking to the media, Zariwala had accused the chief minister and the district magistrate of being responsible for the demolition. She questioned Yogi Adityanath’s authority to take such action and called the demolition a criminal act. She also said that the Muslim community stood against the action and demanded strict action.

Zariwala further said that Yogi Adityanath should instead be referred to by his original name, Ajay Bisht. She alleged that he was “not a yogi but a criminal” because of the mosque demolition and said, “We will not remain silent.”

Following the circulation of the video containing her remarks, advocate Dushyant Singh filed a complaint against Zariwala at Sadar Bazar police station. He alleged that she had made objectionable, indecent and inflammatory statements against CM Yogi and the administration over the removal of the unauthorised mosque.

What happened at Saharanpur Collectorate?

The controversy began after the administration demolished a portion of a mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate premises on 5th September.

The action followed a court decision upholding an earlier order of the City Magistrate concerning the disputed structure. The main issue was the mosque’s presence inside the Collectorate grounds and the ownership status of the land where it had been built.

In July, the City Magistrate had ordered the eviction of the mosque within 30 days. A penalty of Rs 6.41 crore was also imposed on the “illegal occupants” for occupying 315 square metres of government land without authorisation.

The order was passed under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972.