New Delhi: The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has initiated a two-month nationwide campaign titled “Waqf Bachao, Dastur Bachao” in response to the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act passed by Parliament on Saturday.
The board argues that the amendment poses a grave threat to constitutional rights and endangers the protection of waqf properties historically managed by minority communities. The campaign will involve public meetings, awareness drives, legal consultations, and roundtable discussions with civil society actors, legal experts, and concerned citizens.
At a virtual meeting hosted by the All-India Milli Council, AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said, “This campaign will clarify the constitutional ramifications of the amendment and combat the misinformation being spread as part of the ruling party’s narrative. It aims to safeguard waqf assets and the secular ethos of the nation.”
He further criticized some members of the Muslim community who supported the bill, calling them “dubious characters” trying to please the BJP for personal gains.
Kairana MP Iqra Hussain expressed disappointment over the lack of support from non-Muslim citizens. She remarked, “Unlike during the CAA-NRC protests, there seems to be hesitation now, possibly due to fears surrounding land rights.”
Rampur MP Mohibullah Nadvi warned that the bill, once it receives presidential assent, will face legal challenges. “It infringes on the constitutional rights of Muslims and contradicts the principles of justice and equality,” he said, urging Muslim youth—especially in BJP-ruled states—to adopt peaceful and constitutional means of protest.
In a show of unity, several prominent Muslim figures—including former MPs, bureaucrats, and academics—signed a joint letter addressed to Muslim parliamentarians across party lines. The letter commended their resistance and called for collective action, including a petition to the President of India seeking a review of the amendments.
The signatories, including Azeez Pasha, Ahmad Imran, Kunwar Danish Ali, Shahid Siddiqui, Mohammad Adeeb, Wajahat Habibullah, and Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd), called the bill’s passage “a critical blow to minority rights and a turning point for Muslim political representation.” They also hinted at the possibility of coordinated boycotts and joint press conferences if the petition is ignored.
