At Oxford, Mamata Banerjee Received by Anti-CAA protester Shahanawaz Ali Raihan Who Lost on TMC Ticket in 2024

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was received at Oxford by Shahanawaz Ali Raihan, a vocal anti- CAA protester who contested and lost on a Trinamool Congress ( TMC ) ticket in the 2024 elections. Several images of their meeting have surfaced on social media, triggering debate over Banerjee’s political strategy and her continued engagement with figures aligned with identity-based politics.

Raihan, a staunch critic of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), had previously opposed its implementation in West Bengal. “There is no chance that we will let the establishment impose CAA and NRC in the state. Our stand has been clear from the beginning, and it will remain unchanged”, he had stated.

The meeting has sparked discussions over Mamata’s political positioning, as she continues to engage with individuals who opposed central government policies while failing to secure electoral success under the TMC banner. Critics argue that such engagements highlight TMC’s reliance on vote-bank politics rather than addressing governance issues in West Bengal.

While Mamata seeks to project an intellectual and global image, her association with a defeated party candidate raises questions about TMC’s dwindling credibility.

At a time when her governance in Bengal faces scrutiny over law and order, corruption, and economic distress, this political overture appears to be yet another attempt to consolidate a selective support base rather than focusing on real developmental issues.  

Sourav Ganguly Walks Alongside Mamata And Anti-CAA Failed TMC Candidate

Former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly was seen walking alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Shahnawaz Ali Raihanr, during Banerjee’s visit to Oxford. The visuals have sparked debate, raising questions about Ganguly’s presence alongside political figures known for their controversial stance on national issues.   

Who is Shahnawaz Ali Raihan? The Anti-CAA Protester Who Failed to Win on TMC Ticket in 2024

Shahnawaz Ali Raihan, a former leader of the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), had long positioned himself as a staunch critic of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Despite his anti-CAA activism, his electoral debut on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket in 2024 ended in humiliating failure. 

His ideological leanings had been evident in his past activism, particularly his leadership role in the 2019 anti-CAA and NRC protests outside the Indian High Commission in London. Raihan had repeatedly dismissed the CAA as “not only anti-Muslim but also anti-Bengali”, a claim that contradicted the law’s intent.

Raihan Led ‘Azaadi’ Slogans in London, Backed Anti-India Protests on Foreign Soil

Raihan also did not shy away from raising ‘Zor se Bolo Azaadi’ and ‘Hum Kya Chahtey Azaadi’ slogans. As reported by The Telegraph, Raihan glorified the ‘Tukde Tukde’ chants, stating, “I could hear the cries of azaadi as I walked briskly towards the protest venue in Aldwych… It was raining, but despite the chill, the crowd kept swelling.”

His participation in such demonstrations exposes his radical leanings, as he stood alongside those propagating anti-India sentiment on foreign soil. Despite posturing as an academic, Raihan’s activism repeatedly aligned with groups that openly challenged India's sovereignty, raising serious concerns about his true political motivations.

Raihan has also been spotted attending events hosted by the Human Welfare Foundation, an NGO that came under the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) radar for its alleged links to terror funding. In October 2020, the NIA conducted raids on the organization as part of its probe into suspected financial networks supporting extremist activities.
 

Divisive Politics Fail to Resonate With Bengal Voters 

His electoral contest in 2024 had pitted him against the Indian National Congress’s Isha Khan Chowdhury, who was defending a family stronghold, and the BJP ’s Sreerupa Mitra Chowdhury. While the Congress had held the seat in 2019, the TMC had swept the region in the 2021 Assembly elections, largely due to communal vote-bank politics. However, Raihan's failure to secure victory suggested that his brand of divisive politics and radical activism had not resonated with voters.

Despite his Oxford credentials and vocal opposition to the CAA, Raihan’s political aspirations suffered a major setback in 2024. His defeat served as a reminder that fear-mongering and misinformation about the CAA had been losing traction, while the law itself stood as a historic step toward justice for persecuted minorities from neighboring Islamic states.  

About CAA 

On March 11 last year, the Narendra Modi -led government formally notified the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). In an official tweet, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, would enable eligible individuals under CAA-2019 to apply for Indian citizenship.

The CAA was a key component of the BJP’s manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, following the BJP government’s return to power, and has since been at the center of widespread discussions and nationwide protests.

This legislation amends the Citizenship Act of 1955, offering a fast-tracked route to Indian citizenship for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities. To qualify, these migrants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, citing religious persecution in their respective countries.

Rather than recognizing the humanitarian intent behind the law, Raihan and his associates worked to communalize the debate, spreading misinformation and misleading sections of society into believing that the legislation was designed to target Indian Muslims. However, the fact remains that the CAA does not impact any Indian citizen, irrespective of religion.