New Delhi: All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) president Khalid Saifullah Rahmani has said that he met NDA allies Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar and that the two leaders expressed their opposition to the Waqf Bill.
The bill is already with a Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) following objections from the opposition like the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the BJP-led government’s allies favouring a detailed discussion on the proposed changes in the Waqf Act, 1995.
“We met with (Telugu Desam Party chief) Chandrababu Naidu, who assured us that he would oppose this bill. We met with (Janata Dal (United) chief) Nitish Kumar yesterday (21 August), and he also assured us that he would oppose the bill,” Rahmani said at a joint press conference with fellow Muslim community leaders.
He added that Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has also assured the Muslim organisations that his party would oppose the bill.
On Thursday, the AIMPLB, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, and other major Muslim organisations collectively demanded the withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, presented in the Lok Sabha. They warned that if passed, they would protest nationwide until the bill is revoked.
“We will campaign against it within the framework of the law and will take the protest to its last limit,” Rahmani said.
The Muslim organisations described the bill as a “vile conspiracy” to destroy and usurp Waqf properties under the guise of protection and transparency. They have urged the government to desist from such actions and withdraw the bill.
At the first JPC meeting on Waqf Bill, the opposition parties objected to inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf boards. Sources said opposition MPs raised a number of objections regarding the proposed provisions, such as the inclusion of non-Muslim members, giving more powers to district collectors, among others. BJP ally Janata Dal (United) said it is holding consultations with the Muslim community, and that it will discuss these at the next meeting, a JPC member said.
The Muslim outfits, meanwhile, claimed they haven’t received an invitation to the JPC meeting, but will attend if invited. Rahmani added that they want the bill withdrawn entirely and will not approach the JPC themselves.
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‘Bill is anti-Constitutional’
The AIMPLB head further described the bill as being against the intentions of those who laid the foundations of secularism and the Constitution. He claimed that many Waqf properties were occupied by government departments, and urged the rent be cleared to the waqf.
“The changes they are making will be of no benefit. It will result in all the properties of Muslims being taken away,” Rahmani added.
Rahmani, along with representatives of other organisations, advocated for the protection of Waqf.
The proposed bill alters the definition of Waqf, the role of Mutawalli (caretaker), and Waqf boards’ rights, and for the first time, mandates non-Muslim members in both the Central Waqf Council and Boards.
Rahmani claimed that the bill increases non-Muslim representation to up to 13 in the Central Waqf Council and up to 7 in Waqf Boards, with mandatory positions. This, he said, was contrary to Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees minorities the right to manage their religious and cultural institutions.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani alleged that for the first time since Independence, unusual circumstances are arising in the country with constant attacks on Islam. He criticised the BJP for attempting to unsuccessfully divide the Hindus and the Muslims during the general elections.
He stated that the Congress party had assured the Muslim organisations during Partition that the Constitution would be secular and safeguard minorities. “This is not just a waqf issue. The Constitution had promised secularism for the Muslims and the protection of minorities. Today, this promise is being openly attacked,” Madani said.
Rahmani said that in response to questions about starting talks with the Modi government, his organisation has tried multiple times, but to no avail.
He expressed dissatisfaction that the government did not consult them before drafting the bill. “Talks are held with those who keep their door open. But this is a government that has shut its door on the Muslims…,” Rahmani lamented.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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AIMPLB is an utterly patriarchal regressive institution. It has held hostage the lives of Muslims in modern India. As long as it is around, there is no hope for modernisation and reforms in Muslim society.