The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held a large protest at Jantar Mantar, on Monday, opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. Thousands of people from the Muslim community gathered to voice their concerns, calling the bill unconstitutional and a threat to Waqf properties.
“This fight is not just about Waqf. It is about justice, the Constitution, and resisting oppression,” said Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Chairman of AIMPLB. “If the bill is passed forcefully, we will respond accordingly.”
Leaders Speak Out
Several Muslim leaders and opposition politicians joined the protest.
Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, questioned the government’s intent. “If every religious group has the right to manage its properties, why are Muslims being targeted?”
Maulana Kalbe Jawad strongly criticized the bill. “They say it is a bill for progress, but I call it a snake bill—poisonous and harmful to Muslims.”
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused the government of trying to seize Waqf properties. “This bill is not for protecting Waqf land, but for destroying it. Their intentions are bad; they want to create divisions between communities.”
IUML General Secretary E.T. Muhammed Basheer vowed to resist the bill. “The government is openly encroaching on Waqf properties. We will fight relentlessly and stand united against this injustice.”
Congress leader Imran Masood called the bill unconstitutional. “Democracy belongs to everyone, but the government wants to centralize power and strip Muslims of their rights.”
NCP MP Fauzia Khan echoed this concern. “This bill goes against the principles of democracy and religious freedom.”
Government Defends Bill
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the protests as misleading. “False rumors are being spread. The government is not taking away Waqf land or graves. Hindustan follows the law, and no one’s property can be taken away,” he said at a BJP Minority Front event in Delhi.
He accused opposition parties of lying. “If there is any mistake in the law, the courts are there to decide. The Modi government has brought this law for the benefit of Muslim society.”
More Protests Planned
AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas warned of larger protests if the bill is not withdrawn. “If this bill is passed, there will be a movement similar to the farmers’ protest, spreading across all states.”
Many political and religious groups, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, and the All India Milli Council, have announced their participation in the protests. Opposition leaders from Congress, SP, RJD, AAP, DMK, AIMIM, and TMC are also expected to join.
The protestors made it clear—they will not back down until the bill is withdrawn.
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