– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has urged Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu to help stop the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. She warned that the bill violates Muslims’ religious and constitutional rights while diluting the Waqf Act’s autonomy.
Mufti shared her letter to both leaders on social media platform X, highlighting that the NDA government’s survival depends on their support.
“The proposed Waqf amendment bill aims to seize properties by weakening the Waqf Act. I have written to @NitishKumar ji and @ncbn ji to halt this assault on the idea of India,” she posted.
In her letter, she stated that Muslims are being systematically disenfranchised, marginalized, and disempowered. She criticized the government for ignoring opposition concerns and called the consultation process a farce.
She argued that the bill, framed as a reform, actually undermines the Waqf Act’s foundation. “Each amendment contradicts Muslim interests and attacks constitutional rights,” she said.
Mufti called the bill a sign of growing majoritarianism since 2014, eroding India’s secular values and Gandhi’s vision. She urged Naidu and Nitish, whose parties hold crucial seats in the Lok Sabha, to intervene.
“You have upheld our Constitution and the Ganga-Jamuna culture. As key NDA allies, you can influence this issue and stop the damage,” she appealed.
Mufti concluded by urging them to act in the interest of national unity and communal harmony.
