New Delhi [India]: Congress leader Rashid Alvi has voiced his support for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) planned protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.
Speaking to media, Alvi stated:
“Everyone in this country is allowed to protest peacefully, and so does the Muslim Personal Law Board. The Waqf bill is being [enacted] against the Muslim community. If they want to protest peacefully, they have every right to do so.”
He also urged the government to engage with the protestors and address their concerns:
“It is the government’s responsibility to talk to the people there, wherever there is a protest, and their problem should be resolved.”
The AIMPLB, along with several religious and community organizations, has announced a “Maha Dharna” protest scheduled for March 17 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
In a statement, the AIMPLB said:
“All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) along with all religious and community-based organizations, and justice-loving citizens across the country, will exercise their democratic and constitutional rights by staging a protest at Jantar Mantar.”
The AIMPLB claims that despite previous efforts to highlight concerns over the bill, their objections have been disregarded.
Maulana Mohd Fazlur Raheem Mujaddidi, AIMPLB General Secretary, stated:
“Large-scale protests were held across the country, organized by various Muslim organizations, voicing strong opposition to the bill. Despite these efforts, the legitimate concerns of the Muslim community have been ignored, and the NDA government remains committed to its agenda of seizing and destroying Waqf properties.”
The AIMPLB also criticized NDA allies, accusing them of supporting the ruling party’s agenda despite claiming to uphold secular and just principles.
“It is deeply regrettable that even the NDA’s allied parties, which claim to be secular and justice-loving, are supporting the BJP’s communal agenda despite receiving substantial Muslim votes,” the statement added.
The Board further accused the BJP of employing a strategy of ‘divide and rule’ for political gain.
“The Muslim community views the Waqf Amendment Bill as a direct attack on the community. It is evident that the BJP’s politics thrive on communal polarisation and the strategy of ‘divide and rule.’ However, its allied parties must decide how far they are willing to align with this divisive agenda,” the AIMPLB stated.
The organisation hopes the March 17 protest will draw attention to their concerns and prompt political parties to oppose the bill.