| alma_mater = Bishop Johnson School And College,Asian Academy of Higher Studies, Noida{{cite web|url=http://aaft.com/schoolofmasscommunication/alumni/|title=Alumni - Mass Communication Colleges in Delhi India - AAFT Mass communication - Top Mass Communication College in India - AAFT School of Mass Communication|website=aaft.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313215119/http://aaft.com/schoolofmasscommunication/alumni/|archive-date=13 March 2017|access-date=13 March 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=8639 |title=MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- Rampur(UTTAR PRADESH) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |access-date=13 March 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313215041/http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=8639 |archive-date=13 March 2017 }}

| spouse = Seema Naqvi

| children = 1

| education =

}}

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (born 15 October 1957) is an Indian politician and was the Union Minister of Minority Affairs. He had served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2022{{cite web | url=https://www.elections.in/political-leaders/mukhtar-abbas-naqvi.html | title=Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Biography - About family, political life, awards won, history }} and was Deputy Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha between 2021 and 2022.

Naqvi was a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh from 2010 to 2016 and from Jharkhand from 2016 to 2022.

Early and personal life

Naqvi was born to AH Naqvi and Sakina Begum on 15 October 1957 at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India.{{citation |title=Detailed Profile: Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi |url=http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=1915 |work=India.gov.in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208144606/http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=1915 |archive-date=8 December 2015 }} He studied arts and mass communication.{{cite web|url=http://mukhtarabbasnaqvi.in/about.aspx|title=Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi|website=mukhtarabbasnaqvi.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314062932/http://mukhtarabbasnaqvi.in/about.aspx|archive-date=14 March 2017}} Naqvi married Seema Naqvi on 8 June 1983 and they have a son together.

Political career

Naqvi was jailed at the age of 17 in 1975 during the period of Emergency at the Naini Central Jail in Allahabad due to his political activities. As a student leader, he had also participated in the activities of the Janata Party.{{citation |title=Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Muslim face of BJP, stages a comeback |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-09/news/55917828_1_mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-bjp-legislative-assembly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205072741/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-11-09/news/55917828_1_mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-bjp-legislative-assembly |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2014 |work=The Economic Times |date=9 November 2014}} Naqvi unsuccessfully contested elections for the legislative assembly of Uttar Pradesh in 1980 as a candidate of Janata Party (Secular). He also contested elections as an independent candidate in 1980 Lok Sabha elections from the Ayodhya constituency. He was elected to the 1998 Lok Sabha from Lok Sabha, and subsequently given the post of Minister of State for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with additional charge of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (2001-2003) in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2016.{{citation |title=Rajya Sabha polls: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Mahesh Poddar win in Jharkhand |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/rajya-sabha-polls-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-mahesh-poddar-jharkhand-bjp-2847742 |work=The Indian Express |date=11 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612121346/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/rajya-sabha-polls-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-mahesh-poddar-jharkhand-bjp-2847742/ |archive-date=12 June 2016 }}

He became Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs on 26 May 2014 in Narendra Modi ministry.{{citation |title=Asaduddin Owaisi's help to IS suspects will fuel terror: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/asaduddin-owaisis-help-to-islamic-state-hyderabad-suspects-will-fuel-terror-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-2892184 |work=The Indian Express |date=4 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707031750/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/asaduddin-owaisis-help-to-islamic-state-hyderabad-suspects-will-fuel-terror-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-2892184/ |archive-date=7 July 2016 }} After resignation of Najma Heptulla on 12 July 2016, he got independent charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.{{citation |title=Najma Heptulla, G M Siddeshwara resign from Modi Cabinet |url=http://m.indiatoday.in/story/najma-heptulla-g-m-siddeshwara-resign-naqvi-becomes-minority-affairs-minister/1/713432.html |work=India Today |date=12 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810172817/http://m.indiatoday.in/story/najma-heptulla-g-m-siddeshwara-resign-naqvi-becomes-minority-affairs-minister/1/713432.html |archive-date=10 August 2016 }}{{citation |title=Why Najma Heptulla, G M Siddeswara were forced to quit Modi Cabinet |url=http://wap.business-standard.com/article/politics/why-najma-heptulla-g-m-siddeswara-were-forced-to-quit-modi-cabinet-116071201174_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=13 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715222609/http://wap.business-standard.com/article/politics/why-najma-heptulla-g-m-siddeswara-were-forced-to-quit-modi-cabinet-116071201174_1.html |archive-date=15 July 2016 |last1=Mohan |first1=Archis |access-date=13 July 2016 }}

He took oath as cabinet minister in Narendra Modi's cabinet on 30 May 2019 and continued with the Ministry of Minority Affairs.{{Cite web|last=Team|first=DNA Web|title=Modi 2.0 Cabinet: Here's complete list of ministers with portfolios {{!}} Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/photo-gallery-modi-20-list-of-nda-leaders-who-have-got-calls-so-far-to-join-council-of-ministers-2755204|access-date=2020-11-21|website=DNA India|language=en}}{{citation |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |work=Live Mint |date=31 May 2019 }}

Views

= Congress =

According to Naqvi, a "baseless" campaign had been started by Congress party to prevent Indian Muslims from joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. Naqvi has also said that he does not harbour the allegations of Congress that as BJP came to power, there was nobody to cause riots against the minority community.{{cite web|title=Muslims have begun to feel that the campaign unleashed by the Congress against the BJP was totally baseless|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/06inter.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=25 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105121720/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/06inter.htm|archive-date=5 January 2016}}

= Muslims =

Naqvi feels that Muslims don't desert other Muslims if they are given important posts in the Bharatiya Janata Party. For the party to increase support amongst the Muslims; he opines that they should feel that they are "equal citizens of this country", and also "understand that the bill on Muslim Personal Law will not take away their right to practise their religion". In addition, the party should also make them aware of the works done by the Vajpayee government.

Naqvi has also said that there is "no justification" for the 2002 Gujarat riots.{{cite news|title=Q & A: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/21/stories/2004032103091200.htm|date=21 March 2004|access-date=25 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511134530/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/21/stories/2004032103091200.htm|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=11 May 2018}} In November 2015, when actor Aamir Khan said that he felt of leaving the country, Naqvi defended by saying that he had made the comment "in a hurry or maybe under influence from others".{{cite news|title=Aamir may have been under someone's influence: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-reacts-to-aamir-khans-statement/article7912034.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=25 November 2015|date=24 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511134528/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-reacts-to-aamir-khans-statement/article7912034.ece|archive-date=11 May 2018|last1=Hebbar|first1=Nistula}}

= BJP and RSS =

Naqvi has said that Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are two "separate entities" and each of them has different views on different issues.{{cite news|title=BJP minority leader defends party|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/10/21/stories/02210008.htm|access-date=25 November 2015|date=21 October 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511134528/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/10/21/stories/02210008.htm|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-date=11 May 2018}} According to him RSS is a nationalist organization and not an "anti-national" one.{{cite web|title=Hindu or Muslim, if anyone tries to create atmosphere of fear, the public will reject them: Naqvi|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/if-the-rss-has-a-negative-agenda-we-have-nothing-to-do-with-it/|publisher=The Indian Express|access-date=25 November 2015|date=14 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210195334/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/if-the-rss-has-a-negative-agenda-we-have-nothing-to-do-with-it/|archive-date=10 December 2015}}