– Raheem Khan
Jaipur: The Joint Committee for Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf, Rajasthan, organised a Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf Conference at Moti Dungri Road here Sunday. The event was attended by the leaders of various organisations, Ulama and MPs, who collectively voiced their strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.
Muhammad Nazimuddin, convener of the Joint Committee, highlighted that the Waqf Bill, currently under review by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, has sparked widespread huge protests nationwide. The Opposition argues that the bill threatens the autonomy of Waqf properties, aiming to curtail rights of Muslims over these properties, which contradicts the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom under Articles 25 and 26.
Syed Sadatullah Husaini, Vice President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, called for a unified rejection of the bill, urging participants to resist any amendments. He emphasised the need for awareness about Waqf properties, countering misinformation, and engaging political representatives to ensure accountability.
Maulana Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi, General Secretary of AIMPLB, praised the women of Jaipur for their active role in protests against CAA-NRC and their continued participation in opposing the Waqf Bill. He noted that both men and women are equally committed to safeguarding Islamic laws and called for a meeting with the Prime Minister to express their grievances.
Dr. Zafar Mahmood, Chairman of Zakat Foundation of India, shared his detailed analysis of the Waqf Bill, expressing concern that it would weaken the existing protections for Waqf properties, effectively enabling government control over them.
Malik Motasim Khan, JIH Vice President, highlighted the significant turnout at the conference as a sign of strong opposition against the bill. He warned that the bill threatens to reverse a century of reforms in Waqf legislation and could undermine the functioning of state Waqf Boards.
Maulana Syed Tahzibul Hasan Rizvi, Imam of Shia Jama Masjid, Ranchi, emphasised that Waqf properties are considered divine assets. He criticised the government’s interference, calling for the preservation of the Waqf Tribunal’s current status.
Dr. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson for AIMPLB, accused the current government of targeting Muslims through various measures, such as bulldozer actions and mob lynchings, and noted that the Waqf Bill is part of a broader agenda, including implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He cautioned that the government’s actions today against Waqf properties could extend to religious properties of other communities in the future.
The conference saw addresses from notable figures such as Maulana Muhibullah Nadvi (MP, Rampur, UP), Mohammad Imran Masood (MP), Maulana Tauqeer Raza (President, Ittehad-e-Millat Council), Syed Sarwar Chishti (Head of Dargah Sharif, Ajmer), and other community leaders. Thousands and thousands of participants from Jaipur and beyond, including a large number of women, participated in the event.
The conference was organized by key members of the Joint Committee Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf, including Mohammad Nazimuddin (Convener), Hafiz Manzoor Ali (Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind), Sajid Sahrai (Wahdate Islami Hind), and others from various community and religious organisations. Leaders and activists from across the state, such as Maulana Abdul Hameed (Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind), Advocate Mujahid Naqvi (Milli Council, Rajasthan), and Advocate Saadat Ali (President, APCR, Rajasthan), also lent their support to the cause.
The speakers unanimously called for strong resistance against the Waqf Amendment Bill, pledging to use all constitutional means of protest, including road blockades and demonstrations in legislative assemblies, until the bill is withdrawn.
