New Delhi:The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly protested against the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill is “more objectionable” than its previous version, the board said, and it accused the government of rushing it through with a “clear agenda.”
Reacting to the legislation, AIMPLB General Secretary Abdul Rahim, at a press conference, said it will be detrimental to Muslim interests over control of Waqf properties. “This bill is being introduced with careful planning. More than 5 crore mails were sent to oppose it, but none were taken,” Rahim said. He pointed out that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had also registered dissent, but the government went ahead. As Rahim points out, the amended bill removes the passport roles of Muslims, such as CEO, and transfers the management of Waqf affairs to the government, which has greatly troubled the board.
The AIMPLB has warned it will not remain quiet if Parliament passes the bill. “We will start a peaceful protest all over the country,” Rahim affirmed, in an apparent show of solidarity from the community.
AIMPLB Urges Political Parties
On Tuesday, the AIMPLB called upon BJP allies, secular political parties, and MPs not to support the bill and stand strongly against it. The board said in a statement that the legislation was discriminatory and unjust, saying it violated fundamental rights protected by Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution.
Rahim alleged that the BJP was also planning to weaken Waqf laws and facilitate seizure and demolition of Waqf properties. “The narrative of finding temples in every mosque continues to be used despite the Places of Worship Act,” he said. He cautioned that if the amendment is passed, it would make it easier for district collectors and magistrates to seize Waqf properties, giving rise to claims both by the government and others.
The bill introduced in the Lok Sabha today is likely to ignite heated discussions, where AIMPLB and its followers are prepared for a larger battle for protecting Waqf rights.