Shaukat Ali, the president of the AIMIM party in Uttar Pradesh, made headlines with his provocative remarks during a visit to Muzaffarnagar where he addressed two street meetings. He commented on the population control debate, emphasizing that growing the country's population contributes to national strength, and took a jibe at Hindu organizations advocating for families to limit their children to four. Ali suggested that Hindu brothers should aim for 14 children, using China's large population as an example of strength in a country.

Moreover, Ali addressed the construction of a mosque named after Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, stating that the constitution allows the creation of religious sites under any name. He raised a rhetorical question about whether a person named Babur would be denied a license for starting a business, indicating an argument for the protection of Muslim cultural identities in the face of rising sectarian tensions. His comments were seen as a counter to criticisms and allegations that Muslims in India are being unfairly targeted based on their religious identity.

Ali further expressed concern about increasing incidents of mob lynching and discrimination towards Muslims under the pretext of religious symbols like beards and caps. He warned that if the government is apprehensive about the population, it must consider the ramifications of its stance on communal relations. His remarks highlight the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the demographic narrative and communal identity in contemporary India.