Hyderabad, Aug 20: Muslim leaders of Telangana have unanimously rejected the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill currently under review by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). At a meeting convened by Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir, over 50 prominent Muslim leaders resolved to oppose and reject the Bill.
Representatives of leading religious and social organisations, chairpersons of all minority bodies, legal experts and other eminent personalities attended the meeting called to discuss the strategy to counter the Waqf Amendment Bill and the representation to be given to the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Mohammed Ali Shabbir told the participants he would convey their concerns to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and urge the State government to make an official representation to the JPC. He also announced plans to collect feedback on the Bill from various organizations and individuals to prepare a comprehensive submission to the JPC.
Telangana Waqf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini said a special meeting on August 29 would pass a resolution against the amendment to the Bill.
The meeting called for a political and legal campaign against the Bill and sought support from the Christian community, which they believe could face similar threats in the future.
The participants alleged that the Centre was attempting to undermine the institution of Waqf and argued that the proposed amendments posed a threat to the very existence of Waqf institutions across India.
The Muslim leaders highlighted the potential consequences of the Bill on ongoing legal disputes involving Waqf properties. They said the Bill also grants undue power to District Collectors, who may not always act impartially.
The leaders expressed the view that the Bill’s purpose is to polarise the electorate ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. They clarified that Waqf properties have no connection to evacuee properties, which were handed over to the CCLAs long ago. They alleged that RSS-affiliated groups were spreading lies in this regard.
Mohammed Ali Shabbir expressed gratitude to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his efforts in steering the opposition to force the BJP-led government to refer the Bill to the JPC.
The meeting discussed various contentious clauses in the Waqf Bill and their impact on the institution of Waqf. They described the Bill as a conspiracy to destroy Waqf institutions across the country by interfering with the control, administration, and management of Waqf properties. They felt that the BJP-led government was trying to interfere in Shariah by expanding its control over the day-to-day affairs of Waqf institutions, weakening the Waqf survey commissions, Waqf Tribunals, and Waqf Boards while handing over all their powers to the District Collectors.
They strongly objected to the proposed mandatory inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board and Central Waqf Council. They questioned whether the Centre would amend the Endowment Act to induct non-Hindus into the management of temples. They alleged that the main intention of the BJP Government was to incite the Muslim community and create a rift among various sects. They stated that the existing law was sufficient to manage the Waqf institutions. Instead of strengthening the existing law to empower the Waqf Boards to reclaim encroached Waqf properties, the Centre is attempting to authorize the District Collectors to decide whether or not a property is Waqf.
The meeting was attended by Ameer-e-Jamia Nizamia Mufti Khaleel Ahmed, Maulana Hussamuddin Saani Jaffar Pasha, Jamiat Ulama President Mufti Ghyas Rehmani, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president Mohammed Azharuddin, Ahsan Bin Mohd Alhamoomi (Imam, Shahi Masjid), Mufti Hafiz Syed Sadiq Mohiuddin (United Muslim Forum), Mufti Mahmood Zubair (Jamiat Ulama TG), Shoaib Ahmed Khan (Jamaat-e-Islami), Umar Abideen representing AIMPLB President Moulana Khaled Saifullah Rahmani, MLC Amer Ali Khan, CPI leader Aziz Pasha, Urdu Academy chairman Taher Bin Hamdan, Minorities Finance Corporation Mohammed Obedulla Kotwal, Haj Committee chairman Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani and others.
