Hyderabad, Aug 25: Leaders of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) will meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of Janata Dal (United), Lok Janashakti Party and other allies of BJP to explain to them the dangers of Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
The Board has decided to meet all non-BJP chief ministers to explain its stand that the Modi government is trying to destroy Waqf properties through this Amendment Bill.
AIMPLB leaders had last week met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. On August 24, AIMPLB president Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi met Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Owaisi, who is a member of AIMPLB, said today that the Chief Minister was briefed about the dangers posed by the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the BJP-led NDA government.
Revanth Reddy told them that Congress leaders in the Parliament opposed the Bill at the introduction stage.
The Chief Minister also informed the leaders that government advisor and former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir recently held a meeting with Muslim leaders. Revanth Reddy said they would convey concerns of the Muslim community to the central leadership of the party.
Owaisi said the AIMPLB leaders will meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. They will also meet JD(U) leaders and union minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan.
The Personal Law Board will also hold public meetings and its leaders will meet leaders of opposition parties, who have opposed the Bill in the Parliament.
The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 and referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament after a strong demand by the opposition.
The Hyderabad MP alleged that the Waqf Amendment Bill instead of protecting Waqf properties aims to destroy them. He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdraw the proposed legislation.
Alleging that there is no provision in the Bill for protecting Waqf, Owaisi said the BJP was lying.
“A message has gone among the Muslims of the country that Narendra Modi wants to snatch Waqf properties from Muslims,” he said.
The AIMIM chief questioned various clauses of the bill, including the move to empower district collectors in deciding on the ownership of a disputed property, and to have non-Muslim members on Waqf boards.
“Through this bill, the BJP seeks to end Waqf and Waqf properties and it will impact the freedom of religion of Muslims,” he said.
He mentioned that under section 3 of the Bill, if any Waqf property is encroached by the government, the collector will decide and accordingly revenue record will be changed and Waqf Board will be asked to remove it from its record. “A Collector can’t be judge in his own case,” remarked Owaisi.
The MP also referred to Sachar Committee report on encroachment of Waqf properties. In Delhi alone, 200 Waqf properties are encroached.
He also mentioned that Sachar Committee, in its report, pointed out that the Public Premises Eviction Act is not applicable to Waqf Board. He said while Hindu Endowment has summary eviction powers, the Waqf Board lacks these powers.
Owaisi said a constitutional head in Kolkata pays Rs.150 as monthly rent for his house, which is a Waqf property.
He alleged that the Modi government wants to do away with the Waqf by user. “Endowment properties can be declared by custom and usage but mosques, dargahs, khankhas, orphanages, graveyards and other Waqf properties will not remain Waqf properties,” he said.
