Vijayawada: Muslim organisations boycotted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Iftar party here today to protest his tacit support to the Waqf Amendment Bill.
On a call given by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Muslim leaders stayed away from ‘Iftar and dinner’.
The boycott call was given to mount pressure on Chandrababu Naidu to make Narendra Modi government withdraw the Waqf Bill.
The AIMPLB has called for boycott of Iftar parties hosted by the TDP-led NDA government in Vijayawada and other places in Andhra Pradesh to demand Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to make the Union Government withdraw Waqf Amendment Bill from Parliament.
Leaders of Muslim organisations and religious scholars belonging to all the sects did not attend the Chief Minister’s Iftar. Only Muslim MLAs of TDP and heads and members of minority institutions like Waqf Board, Haj Committee and Urdu Academy attended the iftar.
The iftar was followed by ‘Namaz-e-Maghrib’ or evening prayers and dinner. Naidu joined the Muslims in the prayers and later had dinner with them. Minorities Welfare Minister N. Md Farooq was present with the Chief Minister.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Andhra Pradesh state president Rafeeq Ahmed said AIMPLB has decided to boycott iftar parties of partners in BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
AIMPLB feels that both TDP and JD(U), who are key partners of the Modi government, are not opposing Waqf Bill or making the government withdraw it.
Muslim organisations boycotted iftar party hosted by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar in Patna recently.
Rafeeq Ahmed said on one hand Chandrababu and TDP are trying to show their love for Muslim community while on the other they were backing a black bill like Waqf Amendment Bill.
He said Chandrababu Naidu should oppose Waqf Amendment Bill. A resolution should also be passed in the state Assembly, opposing Waqf Bill.
Rafeeq Ahmed said a dharna would be held at Dharna chowk in Vijayawada on March 29 to oppose Waqf Bill, which is detrimental to the interests of the community and goes against the very purpose of Waqf.
Meanwhile, speaking at the iftar, Chandrababu Naidu gave an assurance that Waqf assets would be protected. He, however, did not refer to Waqf Bill.
