Patna: Addressing a large gathering at the Save Constitution and National Solidarity Conference held here, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani issued a stern warning against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. He criticised the governments of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh for allegedly considering support for the bill, saying such an act would be akin to “stabbing Muslims in the back”.
Speaking at the Bapu Sabhagar Auditorium here, Maulana Madani urged the Chief Ministers of both states to rethink their stance, emphasising that supporting the bill for political expediency would betray the trust of Muslim voters. “This dual politics – seeking our votes and then using that power against us – cannot continue,” he declared.
Maulana Madani expressed dismay at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement, which allegedly questioned the constitutional basis for Waqf. “If the Prime Minister claims there is no mention of Waqf in the Constitution, tomorrow he might say prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat are unconstitutional and call for their ban,” he warned.
He emphasised that Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution guarantee religious freedom to all minorities, making Waqf properties an integral part of this protection. “Protecting Waqf is not just a legal right but a religious duty,” he asserted.
Madani further cautioned that the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 could pave the way for the destruction and appropriation of Waqf properties. He pledged that Jamiat, in collaboration with other minorities and justice-loving citizens, would launch a nationwide movement against the bill within the framework of the law.
Decrying the rise of divisive rhetoric in the country, Maulana Madani criticised political leaders, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, for spreading hatred. Referring to Sarma’s repeated use of the term “intruders” to describe Muslims, Madani remarked, “Since assuming office, this person has been relentlessly spewing venom. His hate-filled politics has been rejected by the people of Jharkhand, where Hindus, Muslims, and Christians united to extinguish his divisive agenda.”
Madani also held the Prime Minister and Home Minister accountable for creating an atmosphere of intolerance. “When the country’s top leaders make irresponsible remarks about Muslims, they embolden others to spread poison,” he said.
Maulana Madani reiterated Jamiat’s commitment to fostering harmony and religious tolerance, affirming that no conspiracy to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra would succeed. He appealed to social, political, and secular organisations to unite against communal forces, stressing the importance of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law.
“If justice and the rule of law are undermined, the country’s social fabric will disintegrate, causing irreparable harm to both the majority and minority communities,” Madani concluded, urging vigilance against divisive politics and pledging to defend the values of secularism and equality enshrined in the Constitution.
