– M Rafi Ahmed
Where there is unity, there is always victory. Substantiating the quote of Latin writer and thinker Publilius Syrus, the unified voice of Muslims at the massive rally by various jamaats, political parties and organisations from Athupalam to Ukkadam sought the Union Government to revoke the Wakf Amendment Act, which indiscriminately robs off their rights to Wakf properties.
The rallyists right from both young and old, including women and children, braving the heat shouted slogans against the Union Government, terming the Wakf Act as undemocratic, unsecular and unconstitutional. All eyes were at the rally as Muslims drawn from different corners of the city converged at the Athupalam intersection to show their protest which culminated at Ukkadam where leaders at a meeting raised their voice in unison against the Union Government.
It may be noted that nationwide protests were held across the country soon after the Jummah prayers yesterday with Muslims coming together to seek the Union Government to revoke the Wakf Act. The said Act sparked off a series of protests in different States by different jamaats, Jamathul Ulama and political outfits. In Coimbatore, the District United Jamaath along with Federation of Islamic Organisations and Muslim outfits gave a call for a protest rally and meeting on Friday. In fact, the rally and meeting went off peaceful amidst elaborate police bandobust.
Adyar Imam Dr Sadiduddeen Baqavi in his address among the protestors reminded the nationwide farmers agitation wherein the Punjab agriculturists left no stone unturned to conduct ‘Delhi Chalo’ along with their families and children. Tractors and bullocks were part of their Delhi Chalo agitation. The Union Government with the help of police and army prevented the agitators entering Delhi by putting mega size medians by blocking the roads. However, the farmers putting a brave face continued to fight and finally made the Union Government roll back the Act which was detrimental to the interests of farmers at large.
Likewise, the Imam asked Muslims to stage various types of agitations consistently at all levels and to succeed in our mission.
Leaders and members drawn from Coimbatore District United Jamaats, Jamathul Ulama Sabai, Indian Union Muslim League, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, Jamiyyathu Ahlil Quran val Hadees (JAQH), India Thowheed Jamaath, Yegathuva Muslim Jamaath, Welfare Party of India, Kerala Muslim Educational, and Wahdat-e-Islami Hind were part of the mega rally and meeting.
Slogans of “Don’t rob Wakf properties”, “Revoke Wakf Amendment Act” rent the air. IUML State secretary Kayal Mahboob, Adyar Imam Dr Sadeedudeen Baqavi and JAQH former state general secretary Noor Mohammed spoke at the protest meeting at Ukkadam. Coimbatore District United Jamaath and other organisations convenor Haji M A Inayathullah and organisers Sulthan Ameer Sabeer Ali coordinated the rally.
Four resolutions were passed at the meeting which included expressed gratitude to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and the MLAs for passing a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly against the Wakf Amendment Bill and the DMK MPs for speaking in both the Houses criticising the Government for its anti-secular attitude and sought the TN CM to declare that the Wakf Amendment Act won’t be implemented in the State.
Similar protest rallies and meetings were held across the nation and different States. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Jamathul Ulama Sabai will be conducting a public meeting at Vincent Road, Ukkadam tomorrow evening where Ulama will address to protest against the Wakf Amendment Act. This only reminds this scribe of the quote of American poet and peace-maker Mattie Stepanek – “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”.
