‘The only crime is that they are Muslims’ Asaduddin Owaisi’s reaction in the case of Iftar party on river Ganga.

New Delhi: The case of Iftar party in a boat on river Ganga in Varanasi has once again raised controversy. During Ramadan, some youths had Iftar sitting on a boat in the middle of the river, in which biryani was eaten and the remains were thrown in the river. After this video went viral, the police arrested 14 Muslim youths. Now AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has expressed strong displeasure over this entire matter.

Chaos due to video going viral

During the holy month of Ramzan, a video of an Iftar party on a boat near the Ganga Ghat in Varanasi spread rapidly on social media. In the video, the youth were seen eating biryani and throwing meat bones into the Ganga.

Rajat Jaiswal, metropolitan president of Hindu organizations and BJP Yuva Morcha, called it hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. He lodged a complaint with the police, on the basis of which a case was registered.

Iftar party in the middle of river Ganga in Varanasi became expensive, case registered for eating and throwing chicken biryani…
Hindu organizations expressed anger, pic.twitter.com/NJIxg1GuB2

— Arjun Chaudhary (@Arjun5chaudhary) March 17, 2026

Police took strict action

After examining the video, the police identified 14 youths and arrested them. Apart from sections 298, 299, 196(1)B, 270, 279 of the Indian Judicial Code, section 24 of the Water Pollution Prevention Act was imposed in the case. It is alleged that this hurt religious sentiments and caused pollution in the river. Police said that investigation is ongoing and legal process is going on.

Owaisi’s anger and questions

Speaking in Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi said that when 14 youth broke the fast on a boat, a case was immediately registered. He asked, "How does eating food on a boat in the Ganges hurt one’s religious sentiments? Doesn’t the sewage pile up in the Ganga?" 

Owaisi further said, "Their only crime is that they are Muslims. Liquor shops remained open during Ramzan, weren’t my sentiments hurt?" He described the action as biased and said that if a non-Muslim had done this then perhaps this would not have happened.

This matter has now taken political colour. On one hand there is talk of religious sentiments and the sanctity of the river, while on the other hand leaders like Owaisi are calling it discrimination against Muslims. Sensitivity remains regarding Ganga, but is it a crime to have an Iftar party? This question is now in everyone’s mind.