– Mohd Naushad khan
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) at a press conference on Wednesday at the Press Club of India has appealed to all political parties, including allies of the BJP, to vote as per the constitutional conscience to protect constitutional rights and to protect the Idea of India. The voting on the Waqf Bill is likely to take place in the evening around 8 PM today.
The Board has categorically rejected the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which has been tabled in Parliament today for debate and voting. The Board has claimed the intention is discriminatory, communally motivated, and a blatant infringement on the constitutional rights of Muslim citizens.
According to the Board, “The proposed bill undermines the fundamental principles of religious freedom, equality, and justice, enshrined in Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution. The AIMPLB strongly objects to the bill’s provisions.”
S.Q.R. Ilyas, spokesperson of the Board, while addressing media persons, said, “The Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) report has failed to address the AIMPLB’s concerns, instead perpetuating the bill’s flaws. We urge all secular and non-communal parties, as well as conscientious MPs, to reject this divisive bill and uphold the constitutional principles of equality, justice, and religious freedom.” He also urged MPs not to walk out but instead to debate and press for a vote on the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill in both houses of Parliament and force the NDA allies and other fence-sitters to take a position against this legislation.
During the press meet, AIMPLB gave a nationwide call for all citizens of the country to hit the streets and democratically protest if the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill is passed in Parliament today and to protest until this Bill is withdrawn.
The press conference was also addressed by Mohd. Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, General Secretary, AIMPLB; Mohammed Adeeb, Ex-MP and Member, AIMPLB; and Shafi Madani, National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
