New Delhi, Aug 27: A national conference organised by the Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) voiced strong opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Held at the Ghalib Institute on Mata Sundri Road here Saturday, the event brought together parliamentarians, legal experts, and representatives from various communities, all unified in their condemnation of the proposed legislation.
The Bill was portrayed as a deliberate attempt to seize Waqf properties, raising alarm about its implications for minority rights across India. Addressing the gathering, AAP MP and member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Sanjay Singh warned that the Bill poses a broader threat beyond the Muslim community, potentially endangering the properties of Sikhs, Buddhists, and Hindus as well. He called for a “collective struggle” against the Union government’s encroachment on religious properties, urging all communities to unite in opposition, reported the Maktoob Media.
Congress MP Naseer Hussain reiterated his party’s commitment to opposing the Bill, noting that the Congress leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, had engaged with the INDIA Alliance and other parliamentarians on this critical issue. Hussain stressed the need for a united secular front in this fight and called on all Muslim organisations to come together. He also highlighted the importance of combating the misinformation surrounding the Bill.
Maulana Fazlur Raheem Mujaddidi, General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, categorically rejected the Bill, demanding its complete withdrawal. He argued that the legislation is part of a systematic effort to dispossess Muslims of their Waqf properties and marginalise the community further. Former Union Minister K. Rahman Khan echoed these concerns, describing the Bill as part of a decade-long conspiracy to weaken the Muslim community.
Former MP and IMCR Chairman Mohammad Adeeb pledged to bring any resolutions passed during the conference to the JPC, while Supreme Court lawyer Mahmood Pracha underscored the need for street protests and broader community engagement. “This fight is about protecting the Constitution, and we must involve people from all religions in this battle,” Pracha stated.
The conference featured contributions from various community leaders, including Dr. Zafar Mahmood of the Zakat Foundation of India, who highlighted the vast scale of Waqf properties under threat – approximately 900,000 acres. He raised concerns about the discriminatory nature of the Bill, noting that properties belonging to other religions were not being similarly targeted.
The event concluded with a resounding call for unity and action, as participants agreed to intensify their efforts against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The leaders vowed to continue their fight both within the parliamentary framework and through public mobilisation, aiming to safeguard the rights and properties of all minority communities in India.
Other notable speakers included social activist Syeda Hameed, Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Saeed, Samajwadi Party MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq and Mohibullah Nadvi, former IAS officer Haseeb Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Inamur Rahman, Javed Iqbal, Sajid Peerwala, and other distinguished guests.
