Lucknow – Prominent Shia imam Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi led a massive demonstration in Lucknow on Friday against the BJP-led government’s proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. The protest, organized by Majlis Ulama-e-Hind, took place at the historic Asafi Mosque after the Friday congregational prayers, where a large gathering of Muslims voiced their opposition to the bill.
Chanting slogans against the BJP government, the demonstrators demanded the immediate withdrawal of the controversial bill. Addressing the crowd, Maulana Kalbe Jawad strongly opposed the move, alleging that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had ignored the concerns of the Muslim community and was attempting to pass the bill forcibly.
The Shia imam, who has previously been seen as close to the BJP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, took an unprecedented stance against the government’s policy on Waqf properties. He asserted that the bill was designed to seize Waqf properties under the pretext of administrative control, warning that Muslims would never accept such a move, reported the Navbharat Times.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad further accused some politically motivated individuals from the Muslim community of misleading the public by showing support for the bill. He clarified that the overwhelming majority of Muslims and religious scholars opposed the bill, calling it an attempt to dismantle Waqf institutions and weaken the community economically.
Highlighting the poor management of Waqf properties already under government control, the imam cited examples such as the Hussainabad Trust and Shahi Shifakhana in Lucknow. He revealed that many buildings were in dilapidated conditions, with funds being misused. He also displayed photographic evidence of Waqf land encroachments, including illegal constructions.
Maulana Kalbe Jawad condemned the government’s plan to place Waqf assets under the supervision of district magistrates and commissioners, calling them corrupt and incapable of protecting Muslim endowments. He argued that if the government was truly concerned about utilizing religious wealth for public welfare, gold and assets from Hindu temples should also be considered for national development.
The imam urged all Muslims to unite against the bill, stating that resisting the law was a religious duty. He also announced full support for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other Muslim organizations in their campaign against the bill.
The AIMPLB has scheduled a massive protest and dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 13, calling on Muslims from across India to participate in large numbers to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill.
