New Delhi: While expressing grief, civil society voices, Muslim organizations, activists, and journalists have called on the authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial probe , free from manipulation , into the Red Fort blast. They have also slammed sections of the national media for running a communal smear campaign, targeting Muslims, and attempting to scapegoat an entire community even before the facts are established.
Historian Ashok Kumar Pandey Calls for Media Restraint
Noted historian and writer Ashok Kumar Pandey, in a video commentary, urged viewers to approach reports on the Delhi blast with caution. He compared the current media frenzy to earlier incidents like the Pune Bakery blast and various train explosions, where “the accused were later found innocent after long investigations.”
He reminded his audience,“Whenever such incidents happen, allegations are made, and the media amplifies them without evidence. We saw this in the Sushant Singh Rajput case too — media trial, hysteria, and finally, the accused were found innocent.”
Pandey advised viewers to “take news with a pinch of salt,” emphasizing patience and critical thinking.
He also pointed to earlier claims of large-scale explosive recoveries in Faridabad, which later turned out to involve ammonium nitrate , a substance that “can be used as fertilizer as well as in bombs.”
He added,“When it was found that two Hindus were involved in the Faridabad case, the story disappeared from television screens. But when Muslims are accused, the news runs non-stop.”
Pandey questioned the government’s silence and inconsistency, saying,“Whenever such incidents occur, the first reaction is to blame Pakistan or call it terrorism. This time, the government is hesitant, perhaps fearing questions about how such a massive security breach happened under its watch.”
He also criticized the Enforcement Directorate’s sudden interest in investigating Al-Falah University, saying that if there were genuine concerns about its funding, the agency “should have acted earlier, not after a tragedy.”
“ED doesn’t knock on the doors of ministers but quickly reaches opposition leaders. Why does it need a blast to investigate a university?” he asked.
Pandey concluded by asserting that agencies like the police and ED are supposed to prevent such incidents, not act after the fact, “Our police and intelligence exist to prevent crimes, not merely react. If all the intelligence and counter-terror units report to the government, why weren’t they able to detect explosives in the capital?”
Justice Markandey Katju: “Muslims Are Always the First to Be Blamed”
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju condemned the hasty naming of suspects, saying,“Without any investigation or inquiry, the names of the culprits in the Delhi bomb blasts have been announced. And, of course, they had to be Muslims , because apparently all Muslims in the world are terrorists who have no other work but to plant bombs. This has become a pattern. Much of Indian media’s TRP and many politicians’ politics cannot survive without Muslims, murgas, mandirs, masjids, Pakistan, or Taliban.”
Sagarika Ghose Lists “Seven Unanswered Questions”
Senior journalist and Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose raised a series of pointed questions on social media under the hashtag #DelhiBlast #RedFort, “1) How did an explosive-laden car evade police checks when a search was on?Was it a planned attack or a ‘panic attack’?After Jammu & Kashmir Police busted a terror module in Faridabad, was Delhi Police on high alert or too busy detaining kids for pollution protests?Why has neither Delhi Police nor PIB Home Affairs held a press conference to explain the sequence of events?Home Minister Amit Shah keeps claiming the back of cross-border terror has been broken. After Pahalgam and now Red Fort, the Home Ministry’s words are hollow. Will Amit Shah admit to his failure?After the massive security lapse in Pahalgam, there was no accountability. Will there be accountability this time?Was it necessary for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be in Bhutan within hours of the blast in the national capital?”
Mahua Moitra: “PM Prioritized Deals Over National Grief”
All India Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also criticized the Prime Minister’s visit abroad following the tragedy, “Let us remember this — on the morning after the deadly blast in Delhi that killed dozens, India’s PM flew early to Bhutan to ensure a Rs.6,000 crore deal for BFF Gautam Adani. Let history write this.”
Muslim Leaders Demand Accountability for Lapses, Transparent Probe
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani expressed profound grief and concern over the tragic explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort, urging the government to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased, and multi-dimensional investigation.
Expressing serious concern over the explosion’s proximity to one of the most secure areas in the national capital, Maulana Rahmani said that if the incident was accidental, it was “extremely unfortunate,” resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. However, if it was an act of terrorism, it was “deeply alarming” and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s security apparatus.
“Such incidents near highly sensitive areas of the national capital expose glaring lapses in security preparedness,” Maulana Rahmani said. “The government must ensure that the probe is thorough, impartial, and free from political influence.”
He added that in this hour of national grief, the AIMPLB stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and prays for the early recovery of the injured.
AIMPLB Spokesperson Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas Raises Sharp Questions
According to the IndiaTomorrow.net report, AIMPLB spokesperson and WPI leader Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas said, “Whether it was an accident or a blast, there must be an impartial and transparent probe. Obviously, everyone who was in the car has perished. If it were a suicide bombing, usually only one person is involved, so the idea that four people would do this together doesn’t seem plausible to me. Nevertheless, whatever the case may be, there must be a thorough, unbiased probe, and the real culprits must be identified.”
On national security, he remarked, “If this was a terrorist act, it raises serious questions about how such an incident could occur in a place like Delhi — the national capital — and that too near the Red Fort, which is a prime location, a busy marketplace, and the venue for the Independence Day parade on August 15.”
He added that the Home Minister “must take responsibility,” citing “many such incidents” during the current tenure — “for example, Pulwama and Pahalgam.”
Responding to questions about the potential impact on the Bihar Assembly elections, Dr. Ilyas said, “If this was just an accident, it’s hard to say what impact it might have. But if it was not an accident, then every aspect must be probed — whether it was done deliberately or otherwise , and the probe must be completely independent and free from political influence.”
He stated that recent arrests in Faridabad “expose the government’s incompetence,” adding, “It shows that the government has little concern for the country’s security and is only interested in retaining power and winning elections.”
Dr. Ilyas criticized the Home Minister’s absence from Delhi and Prime Minister Modi’s foreign visit during the crisis, saying, “The Prime Minister tends to go abroad during such crises. He should remain in Delhi during these situations.”
JIH President Syed Husaini Calls for Justice
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) President Syed Sadatullah Husaini also expressed “profound grief” and demanded a “transparent, high-level, and time-bound investigation.” He said, “We are deeply saddened by the deadly blast near Red Fort in Delhi that claimed precious lives and injured many.”
He added that if it is confirmed as a terror act,“ we unequivocally condemn this heinous act and demand that the culprits be brought to justice at the earliest.”
Husaini also warned against communal narratives, saying, “In times of crisis, unity and solidarity are vital. Those who exploit such incidents for political or ideological gain must be held accountable under the law.”
Advocate Ashish Goel: “Biased Judicial Approach”
Advocate Ashish Goel criticized the Supreme Court’s stance, questioning its timing and intent. “The Indian Supreme Court wants to ‘send a message’ by denying liberty to a Muslim accused the day after a tragic blast? Message to whom? Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice spoke about the court’s commitment to the rule of law. This doesn’t sound like rule of law to me — it sounds like a biased judicial mind,” he said.
Reacting to the development, Goel pointed out that just a day after the car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, the Supreme Court denied bail to Syed Mamoor Ali accused under the UAPA in an unrelated case, remarking, “it is the best morning to send a message.”
Journalist Alamullah Laments Silence of Muslim Leaders Over Communal Spin
Indian-origin journalist Mohammad Alamullah, currently based in the UK, lamented the silence of Muslim scholars and community figures. “Two days have passed since the Delhi blast, and Muslim scholars have not yet presented a clear narrative. The media is calling it ‘white-collar terrorism,’ shaping the perception that even educated Muslims are untrustworthy,” he said.
He added, “This time, it’s not about Kashmiris or Pakistanis but Indian, educated, well-mannered Muslims — and even institutions like Al-Falah University are being targeted.”
Urdu Columnist Abdul Rahman Abid: “Truth Has Become Dangerous”
Urdu columnist Abdul Rahman Abid wrote that the issue is not why Muslim organizations have been slow to respond, but the “bad faith of rulers who justify every crime in the name of winning elections.”
He added, “Speaking the truth is a risky act. Those who do so are becoming rare.”
He argued that early reports pointed to a CNG explosion, with “no crater or bomb residue,” but “dishonest and hateful sections of the media began linking the tragedy to a Kashmiri doctor, turning it into an anti-Muslim propaganda campaign.”
As investigations proceed, civil society voices are demanding transparency, accountability, and an end to communal scapegoating , even as the political discourse grows increasingly polarized.