New Delhi: The house of Manipur BJP Minority Morcha president, Mohammad Asker Ali, was set on fire by unidentified individuals after he expressed support for the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. The attack happened just hours after his public endorsement of the Bill, which many in his community and opposition parties have condemned as a ‘black act’.
Ali, a Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) leader from the Lilong constituency in Thoubal district, had earlier posted on social media in support of the Bill. However, facing strong criticism from his community, he later withdrew his statement and apologized in a Facebook video.
In a new video post in Manipuri, Ali said, “I am Asker Ali from Lilong Haoreibi Sambrukhong. I had posted videos and comments supporting the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. I feel sorry for what I said. I will not repeat this. I clarify that I do not support the Bill and demand it be repealed.”
Ali clearly stated that he has withdrawn his support and called for the Bill’s immediate repeal. His reversal seems to be a result of community pressure.
The perpetrators have not been caught, and the Manipur BJP has not released any official statement on the incident.
