The notorious Hyderabad-based preacher, Syed Ayub has sparked yet another controversy by prohibiting individuals from chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)” and attributing a communal connotation to it. The video carrying his comments was shared on his social media on 25th March (Wednesday). He has over 2 million followers on Instagram and more than 1 million on Facebook.
“Do not say Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Muslims have always been at the forefront in assisting the country during times of crisis. Do not make it religious. Hindus and Muslims are one,” he proclaimed while handing over a few bottles of petrol, allegedly without charge, to some people. Ironically, he invoked religion to laud his own community while denouncing others who were simply expressing pro-India sentiments unrelated to any religion.
Notably, this is not the first instance where the leader of Hyderabad Youth Courage (HYC), an NGO, has shared such contentious views. “Not just in Sambhal, but across the entire country, Namaz will be offered on the roads, Inshallah. If Eid gatherings are large, Muslims will come out and offer Namaz on the roads,” he provoked in a video few days before the Islamic festival.
Ayub then challenged the authorities and threatened, “If someone thinks they can stop Muslims from praying on the road, let them try. Muslims are not afraid of threats of cases or jail.” The Sambhal police had issued strict warnings about maintaining law and order during Eid and Friday prayers. According to the local administration, allowing religious gatherings on roads often disrupts traffic and public movement, which is why such restrictions are imposed.
Ayub also used a derogatory word for UP CM Yogi Adityanath and criticised the Yogi government, accusing it of creating unnecessary restrictions on Muslims. Apart from his political and social commentary, he has also been involved in another campaign, which is associated with the war in Gaza. He has been using his NGO to promote a Ramzan aid initiative that claims to deliver Iftar meals and drinking water for the people of Gaza.
Recently, Ayub was spotted in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, where he went to meet the woman and the Muslim family linked to the death of Hindu youth Tarun Kumar, who was killed by a Muslim mob. The incident had drawn attention after allegations of mob violence surfaced.
Ayub has also faced legal trouble in the past. In 2024, police in Hyderabad registered a case against him after a complaint accused him of cheating and illegal fundraising on social media. The complaint stated that he shared personal bank account details on social media and posted pictures from Hyderabad Airport and later from Egypt, suggesting that he was travelling to Gaza with aid supplies.
However, the complainant argued that such claims were misleading because, given the geopolitical situation, sending aid to Gaza by road was practically impossible. Ayub was also accused of misleading donors and collecting funds under false promises. The complaint also demanded action against his NGO and requested that the Hyderabad Youth Courage social media pages be blocked.
This was not the first time Ayub had been arrested. Back in 2020, the Hyderabad Task Force police arrested him along with Salman Khan, the president of the same NGO. Police said the two had misused money collected through crowdfunding campaigns meant for people suffering from serious illnesses.
