AIMPLB slam the Waqf bill as ‘direct attack on Muslims’; Call for protest in Jantar Mantar on 17 March. Mint

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on March 17 at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital to implement the discretion of “secular” political parties, including those parts of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Center.

Board spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasul Ilyas said at a press conference on Tuesday, ‘Dharna’ was to be held on March 13, but Holi has been postponed in view of holidays, and Parliament cannot be found on that day.

Ilyas also said that many MPs have been invited to protest.

AIMPLB is the top body of Muslim clerics, Rasool said that after carefully considering, the board has come to the conclusion that the proposed law would pave the way for the “Suding” of Waqf properties and it was a “direct attack” on Muslims.

“We used to expect our suggestions to be taken into consideration by the Joint Committee of Parliament. But neither our opinion was considered nor the amendments proposed by the opposition parties were included,” Ilis said at a press conference.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposed amendments in the WAQF (Amendment) Bill after incorporating the changes recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Approval paves the way for the bill for the bill in Parliament in the second half of the budget session starting on 10 March.

Ilyas said that AIMPLB had provided more than 3.6 crore reactions through email for the suggestions sought by the parliamentary panel.

He said that the bill is for “discrimination” as it asks for having non-Muslim members in Waqf boards and councils when there is no such provision in the management of Hindus and Sikhs, he said.

The union cabinet, it has been learned, has included most changes recommended by JPC, led by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal. The panel approved the bill on 27 January, adopting all the 14 changes proposed by NDA members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a statement, AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rahm Muzadadi and Ilyas said that Muslims worth five crore rupees have sent emails to the Joint Committee against the bill and despite the widespread representation by the Muslim Personal Law Board, leading national and state-level Muslim organizations and prominent persons, the government has not rejected its stance. ,

In democratic countries, any law or bill is usually discussed with its primary stakeholders before being introduced into the legislature. However, this government has followed a “powerful approach” from the beginning, he said.

The statement said, “Three farm laws were passed in Parliament without any consultation with the farmers. It was only long and after the protests by the farmers that the government was forced to withdraw them,” AIMPLB said a nationwide campaign against the bill.

When the bill faced serious criticism from the opposition parties, a 31 -member joint committee was formed, but it was claimed by surface amendments and tightened the bill, due to dominating the members of the ruling party.

The statement said that the committee dismissed the 44 amendments proposed by the Muslim community as well as the opposition members, as well as well objections and appropriate suggestions.

The spokesman further said that an AIMPLB delegation had also met JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and sought his support, for which his reply was similar to Naidu.

AIMPLB urged parties like TDP, JD (U), RLD and LJP (Ramvilas) not to support the bill as they expect to think on the lines of the welfare of the minority community. Muzadiidi said, “If they do not do so, we have to decide our future course (visual in these parties).”

Despite all the efforts, Mujdidi and Ilas said that the legitimate concerns of the Muslim community have been ignored and the NDA government is committed to its agenda of “seizing and destroying” the government Waqf properties, Mujadidi and Ilis said.

“It is deeply regrettable that even the NDA affiliated parties, who claim to be secular and justice-lover, are supporting the communal agenda of the BJP despite obtaining adequate Muslim votes. The Muslim community sees this Waqf Amendment Bill as a direct attack on the community,” the statement said.

AIMPLB will exercise its democratic and constitutional rights by protesting against all religious and community-based organizations and justice-based citizens across the country on 17 March.

“The purpose of this performance is to implement the discretion of secular political parties,” the statement said.

Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

The bill proposes to cancel several sections in the existing Waqf Act, which controls the Waqf boards. It also advocates far-reaching changes in the Current Act, including Muslim women and non-Muslims in the middle and state Waqf bodies.

The bill gives the district collector powers to resolve disputes about whether any property is Waqf or Government Land or not. The Bill wants to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 and proposes to allow a non-Muslim Chief Executive Officer.

Opponents say that the purpose of these amendments is to reduce the ‘arbitrary’ authority of Waqf boards. The current WAQF Act allows the board to claim any property in the form of WAQF without compulsory verification.