Hyderabad, Aug 17: Various Muslim socio-religious organisations opposing Waqf Amendment Bill have planned to meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to urge him to make the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to withdraw the Bill.
Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key ally of Narendra Modi government. Some organisations have also decided to make a representation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose Janata Dal (United) is also a key partner in the NDA government at the Centre.
Since Naidu had served as the chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh for nearly a decade and leaders of several Muslim organisations had association with him in the past, they plan to use their old ties to impress upon him the need to stop amendments to the Waqf Act.
Moulana Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, president Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, said they will make representation to leaders of NDA allies.
He also announced that Waqf conference will be held in Hyderabad next month. Eminent ulama, legal experts, intellectuals and ‘mashaeqeen’ will participate in the conference, which will chalk out future course of action.
Stating that the government’s interference in the matter relating to Waqf properties is unacceptable, he said Muslims have a law for Waqf just like people of other religions have laws governing their places of worship.
Jamiat plans mass movement including meetings and rallies to oppose the Waqf Amendment. He said they would approach the court if necessary.
An association of ‘Sajjadagaans’ (heads of dargahs), Mutawallis and ‘Khidmat guzars’ also held a roundtable meeting in which Ulama, Sajaadagaans and other participated. The meeting presided over by Moulana Syed Shah Ali Kabr Nizamuddin Hussaini Saberi decided to make representation to Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar.
The meeting decided to organise a public meeting and conduct awareness programmes. It was felt that there is a need to explain what is Waqf to all political parties. They made it clear that Waqf’s objectives are religious and charity and not social.
The participants also discussed how to deal with some so-called ulama and mashaeqeen supporting Waqf Amendment Bill.
The speakers said Khankhaen, dargahs, other religious places like ashoor khane are part of Ganga Jamuni culture but the Centre is trying to wipe out this identity of Muslims. They felt that this is an issue related to every section of Muslims.
Former chairman of Waqf Board Mohammed Saleem and Moulana Hussamuddin Saani Jaffer Pasha addressed a press conference to oppose Waqf Amendment Bill. They termed it an attempt to interfere in Shariat.
Jaffer Pasha said Waqf properties were already being destroyed and now with this new law the government wants to snatch away Waqf properties by giving powers to government officials.
He said there is a need to do survey of Waqf properties, especially mosques and inform details to the people.
Saleem said many properties were destroyed due to the collusion between mutawallis or caretakers and the officials of Waqf Board.
Saleem said if necessary a memorandum will be submitted to the Prime Minister. He said the members of Joint Parliamentary Committee should also be educated on how the Waqf Amendment Bill is harmful to the interests of Waqf properties. He said the Centre should present a Bill for protection of Waqf properties by granting judicial powers to Waqf Boards.
Leaders of various organisations made it clear that amendments like full powers to Collectors and representation of non-Muslims in Waqf Board are unacceptable.
They said only four Muslim MPs were included in the committee. At least 10 Muslim MPs should have been included.
When Muslims have no representation in endowments, how can non-Muslims be given representation in Waqf Boards, they said.
They are of the view that Waqf properties belong to Allah and their benefits should reach the poor. If Waqf properties are used properly, the poverty of Muslims can be eliminated.
Stating that several Waq properties in Telangana have been encroached, the leaders called for probe by CBI or CID.
Demands were also made for appointing an IAS officer as CEO of Waqf Board. The leaders also mentioned Waqf Board staff helped the encroachers through disappearance of Waqf records. They called for retrieving Waqf records from Archives department.
Congress leaders also staged protest. It was led by state Congress general secretary Mohammed Feroz Khan. The protestors demanded withdrawal of the Bill. They said that Bill is against the Indian Constitution.
All India Shia Organisation organised a meeting against the Waqf Amendment Bill and called it a conspiracy to wrest Wakf properties from Muslim community. Hadi Ali, president All India Shia organisation, made it clear that amendments to the Act are unacceptable.
