Mumbai, Sep 9: A delegation from All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), led by General Secretary Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, met with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence here Sunday. The delegation presented a memorandum urging Pawar to strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, arguing that the proposed bill is unconstitutional and threatens the rights of the Muslim community, reported The Hindustan Times.
During the meeting, Maulana Mujaddidi highlighted a persistent but false narrative that any land or property claimed by the Waqf Board automatically becomes its own. He clarified that, in reality, thousands of acres of Waqf land are unlawfully occupied by various entities, including central and state governments. The delegation expressed concern that if the controversial bill is passed, it would result in the loss of these occupied Waqf lands.
Maulana Mujaddidi explained that the existing Waqf Act of 1995 provides multiple judicial avenues for resolving disputes, including the Waqf Tribunal, High Court, and Supreme Court. However, the proposed amendment seeks to transfer these matters to the district collector, who, due to government influence, is unlikely to rule against government interests. The delegation also opposed the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board and the Central Waqf Council, as well as the elimination of the requirement for a Muslim CEO. They asserted that these changes appear to be aimed at facilitating the appropriation of Waqf lands, a move that is entirely unacceptable to the Muslim community.
The delegation urged Pawar and his party, as well as the broader India Alliance Government, to exert pressure on the central government to withdraw the bill. They warned that if the bill is passed, Muslims would exercise their constitutional right to protest.
In response, Sharad Pawar assured the delegation that his party would not tolerate the misappropriation of religious properties. He promised to vigorously oppose the bill and ensure it is not approved. Pawar also mentioned that NCP MP Shirish Mhatre, a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, has been instructed to represent the concerns of Muslims forcefully within the committee. Pawar reaffirmed his full support to the Muslim community on this issue.
The delegation, which included members of the AIMPLB and prominent Muslim figures from Mumbai, expressed their gratitude to Pawar for his unwavering commitment and wished him good health and safety.
Among the delegation were notable personalities such as Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Khan Daryabadi, Abu Asim Azmi, Dr. Zaheer I. Qazi, Mufti Saeedur Rahman Farooqi, Saleem Motorwala, Shia scholar Maulana Ruh Zafar, Shakir Sheikh, Maulana Anis Ahmad Ashrafi, Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi, Dr. Azeemuddin, Hafiz Iqbal Chonawala, Naeem Sheikh, and Sohail Subedar, among others.
