AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that a portion of a mosque property owned by the Waqf was demolished in Delhi during an anti-encroachment drive and blamed the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it a “black law”.
The incident took place near the Faiz e Elahi mosque in the Ramlila Maidan area of Delhi, close to Turkman Gate, on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Violence broke out after a social media post claimed that the mosque was being demolished. According to police, a crowd gathered at the spot and several people started pelting stones at police personnel, injuring five policemen. Police later used tear gas shells to control the situation.
Addressing a rally for the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar civic polls in Maharashtra, Owaisi said the demolition happened around 1.30 am and involved Waqf property. “The property near Turkman Gate is Waqf land as per a gazette notification issued in 1970. What happened in Delhi is just the beginning after the Waqf Act was passed in Parliament,” he said. He urged people to understand the situation in the country and respond through their votes.
Owaisi alleged that the Delhi High Court passed an incorrect order despite the gazette notification declaring the land as Waqf property. He also criticised the Delhi Waqf Board, saying it failed to protect the mosque by not filing a review petition. “Now this matter will be taken to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Calling the amended Waqf law a black law, Owaisi claimed it was being used to take over Muslim religious properties. “This law was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the support of Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu. It is being used to snatch our mosques and graveyards,” he alleged.
Appealing to voters ahead of the Maharashtra civic body elections scheduled for January 15, Owaisi urged them to vote against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. “If people want to protect their religious places, they must vote against those responsible for this law and stand with AIMIM,” he said.
Speaking about constitutional values, Owaisi said the Preamble of the Constitution begins with “We, the people” and not “Bharat Mata”. Referring to the celebration of 150 years of Vande Mataram in Parliament, he said no one spoke about Dr B R Ambedkar’s views on freedom of thought, faith, expression and religion.
He also said the Constitution allows Muslims to worship Allah and claimed that he was the only Muslim Member of Parliament who said this openly in Parliament. “I said we will say only ‘La ilaha illallah’. I did not compromise with my religion or the Constitution,” Owaisi added.
Maharashtra AIMIM president and former MP Imtiaz Jaleel, who also addressed the rally, said the party faced internal challenges during the last Lok Sabha elections and warned that similar forces were active again. Referring to a recent attack on his car, Jaleel said the AIMIM would not be intimidated and demanded strict action against those involved.
Owaisi also said he would visit the area in Delhi where the demolition took place. “I am not afraid. I always go where people challenge me,” he said.
