{{Short description|Indian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Dr.Maskoor Ahmad Usmani | image = Maskoorahmad.jpg | birth_name = Maskoor Ahmad Usmani | birth_place = Darbhanga, Bihar | alma_mater = Aligarh Muslim University | education = Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | occupation = Student Activist, Politician (INC Candidate, Jale Vidhan Sabha) | years_active = 2016–present | political_party = Indian National Congress | known_for = Participation in Citizenship Amendment Act protests }}
'''Maskoor Ahmad Usmani''' is an Indian politician based in Darbhanga, Bihar. Usmani was the president of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union and is a national leader of the Indian National Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 December 2017|title=Mashqoor Ahmad Usmani elected AMU students union president|work=New Indian Express|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/dec/12/mashqoor-ahmad-usmani-elected-amu-students-union-president-1725131.html|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref> He is known for participation in Citizenship Amendment Act protests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/movement-against-citizenship-law-not-for-a-particular-community-but-to-save-constitution-6188380/|title='Movement against citizenship law not for a particular community, but to save Constitution'|publisher=Indian Express|website=indianexpress.com|date=28 December 2019|access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Usmani was born in Garoul, a village Panchayat located in Darbhanga, in 1995. He completed his primary education from Garoul before entering Iqra Academy, Darbhanga. Usmani attended Kendriya Vidyalaya - 2, Darbhanga. Usmani participated in state level debates, science exhibitions and co-curricular activities while at school. He was also the school captain and scout and guide commander.
He then pursued a Bachelor in Dental Surgery from Aligarh Muslim University.
==Political career==
=== Aligarh Muslim University Student's Union === In December 2017, Usmani defeated Ajay Singh by 6,719 votes and was elected as a president of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union. Usmani has been campaigned against Hindutva politics, which promotes a manifestation of Hindu Nationalism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsclick.in/i-was-illegally-detained-while-i-was-unconscious-amusu-president|title=I was Illegally Detained While I was Unconscious: AMUSU President|work=NewsClick}}</ref> In 2018, Usmani met with former vice-president of India Hamid Ansari at his residence to invite him at the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union.<ref>{{cite news |title=AMU students re-invite Hamid Ansari |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/amu-students-re-invite-hamid-ansari/story-GtTiF7jyTfLRrZ0kTY2m4H.html |access-date=18 June 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=21 May 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Anti CAA Movement === In 2019, Usmani came into the limelight during the anti-CAA protest. He started campaigning against CAA-NRC, the 2019 amendment in Indian Citizenship Act.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/movement-against-citizenship-law-not-for-a-particular-community-but-to-save-constitution-6188380/|title='Movement against citizenship law not for a particular community, but to save Constitution'|date=28 December 2019|work=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/aligarh-muslim-university-anger-at-yogi-adityanath-s-words/cid/1747091|title=Aligarh Muslim University anger at Yogi Adityanath's words|date=21 February 2020|work=Telegraph India|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref> At that time he criticised the government and took part in several anti-CAA protests across India. During this period, he was invited as a TV panelist where he voiced his dissent against the newly passed CAA.
=== Bihar Assembly Elections- 2020 === Usmani was an INC candidate from the Jale (Vidhan Sabha constituency) which is part of No. 6 Madhubani (Lok Sabha constituency) in the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. INC is a coalition partner within the Mahagathbandhan (Bihar). He stood 2nd and managed to secure 65580 electoral votes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 November 2020|title=Maskoor Ahmad Usmani (INC) Election Result 2020 Live Updates: Maskoor Ahmad Usmani of INC Loses|work=News18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/maskoor-ahmad-usmani-inc-election-result-2020-live-updates-counting-of-votes-to-start-at-8am-3062459.html}}</ref>
==Controversy== In 2018, local BJP MP Satish Gautam demanded the removal of Jinnah's portrait from the student union's office. During that time, Usmani was the president of the Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union. BJP accused Maskoor Ahmad Usmani for opposing the call to remove Jinnah's portrait from the student union's office. Oh his defense, Usmani released a statement, "We’d again like to make it very clear that the students of Aligarh Muslim University are in no way defending Mohammad Ali Jinnah or his portrait".<ref>{{cite news |title=Not defending Mohammad Ali Jinnah or his portrait, AMU students write to President Ram Nath Kovind |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/not-defending-mohammad-ali-jinnah-or-his-portrait-amu-students-write-to-president-ram-nath-kovind-2107414.html |access-date=18 June 2020 |work=Zee News |date=13 May 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Usmani wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi requesting removal of all portraits of Jinnah across India, particularly pointing to Jinnah’s portrait within the Bombay High Court and the Parliament of India.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 October 2020|title=Maskoor Usmani wrote to PM for removal of Jinnah's portrait from AMU, Parliament & Bombay HC: Congress|work=newd|url=https://newsd.in/maskoor-usmani-wrote-to-pm-for-removal-of-jinnahs-portrait-from-amu-parliament-bombay-hc-congress/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Khan|first=Fatima|date=18 October 2020|title='Nothing to do with Jinnah ideology' — Congress defends its Bihar candidate Maskoor Usmani|work=The Print|url=https://theprint.in/politics/nothing-to-do-with-jinnah-ideology-congress-defends-its-bihar-candidate-maskoor-usmani/526054/}}</ref>
In 2019, Usmani was booked under sedition charges for raising anti-national slogans.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srivastava|first=Piyush|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/aligarh-muslim-university-anger-at-yogi-adityanath-s-words/cid/1747091|title=Aligarh Muslim University anger at Yogi Adityanath's words|date=21 February 2020|work=Telegraph India|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> According to Outlook India, 14 students had a noisy disturbance with Republic TV crew on an ongoing college meeting. AMU authority and Republic TV both lodged complaints at the Civil Lines Police Station. Later, sedition charges were dropped and it was discovered that Usmani was in Delhi when the incident happened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-republic-tv-mistaken-as-indian-republic-14-amu-students-booked-for-sedition-after-fracas-with-tv-crew/325389|title=14 AMU Students Booked For Sedition After Fracas With Republic TV Crew|date=13 February 2019|work=Outlook India|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
In 2020, Twitter suspended his official account for criticizing Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on arrest of Safoora Zargar and Meeran Haider.<ref>{{cite web |title=Twitter Suspends account of Maskoor Usmani, Former President, AMUSU on Criticising UAPA on Meeran & Safoora |url=https://millattimes.com/2020/05/twitter-suspends-account-of-maskoor-usmani-former-president-amusu-on-criticising-uapa-on-meeran-safoora/ |website=Millat Times English |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622035825/https://millattimes.com/2020/05/twitter-suspends-account-of-maskoor-usmani-former-president-amusu-on-criticising-uapa-on-meeran-safoora/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usmani, Maskoor}} Category:Indian activists Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Bihar Category:People from Darbhanga Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni Category:People involved in the Citizenship Amendment Act protests