India Tomorrow
MUMBAI: A delegation from the Federation of Maharashtra Muslims recently met with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) at the Taj Hotel in Santa Cruz, presenting a memorandum that calls for the rejection of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The delegation argued that the bill is unconstitutional and goes against the interests of the Muslim community.
The delegation informed the committee that there is overwhelming opposition among Muslims to this controversial bill. They noted that over 5.5 crore Muslims nationwide have sent emails opposing the amendment, as per the JPC’s directives. Additionally, numerous handwritten and typed letters have been dispatched via postal and courier services. This figure of 5.5 crore represents approximately one-third of the Muslim population in India, indicating widespread demand for the bill’s withdrawal.
The delegation also pointed out that many Muslims living in rural areas or without access to smartphones are equally opposed to the bill, despite their inability to send emails. They emphasized that a false narrative has been circulated on social media, suggesting that the government is obligated to grant land to the Waqf if it lays claim to it. In reality, thousands of acres of Waqf land are under illegal occupation, including by central and state governments, and efforts are underway to reclaim this land. The delegation warned that if the bill passes, it could lead to the removal of occupied lands from Waqf control.
Currently, there is a multi-tier judicial system for Waqf matters, allowing appeals from Waqf Tribunals to High Courts and the Supreme Court. The proposed amendment would transfer all judicial matters to the district collector, who may lack the independence to rule against government interests.
The delegation opposed the inclusion of non-Muslim members on the Waqf Board and the removal of the requirement for a Muslim Chief Executive Officer. They expressed concern that the amendment aims to facilitate the occupation of Waqf lands, a notion that is entirely unacceptable to the Muslim community. They insisted that Waqf lands are not public properties but rather private properties dedicated to God for charitable and welfare purposes.
Participants urged the government to immediately withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. They also called on the JPC to engage with genuine grassroots organizations representing the Muslim community, cautioning against the influence of paper organizations that may approach the committee.
The delegation expressed hope that the JPC would convey the sentiments of Muslims regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill to the government and recommend its rejection. They warned that if the bill is forcibly passed, the Muslim community would be compelled to resist it through constitutional means.
Notable attendees from the meeting included Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Khan Daryabadi (General Secretary of All India Ulema Council), Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi (President of Maharashtra Jamaat-e-Islami Hind), Dr. Zaheer Qazi (President of Anjuman Islam), Farid Sheikh (President of Mumbai Peace Committee), Maulana Faheem Falahi (Secretary of JIH Maharashtra Waqf Cell), Mohammad Siraj (President of Movement for Peace and Justice), Shia cleric Agha Rooh Zafar, Advocate Mobeen Ahmed (Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Mumbai), Shakir Sheikh (Managing Trustee of Bombay Education and Social Trust), Saleem Motorwala (Secretary of MPJ), Afzar Usmani, Hafiz Iqbal Chunawala from the Memon Community, and several other prominent figures from the community.
The JPC was represented by Chairman Mr. Jagdambika Pal, along with members Maulana Mohibullah Nadwi, Asaduddin Owaisi, Nishikant Dubey, Arvind Sawant, Suresh Gopinath, and Kalyan Banerjee, among others.
