By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: As the deadline for submitting suggestions to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 approaches, a fierce battle has intensified. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) claims to have sent nearly 6 crore emails opposing the bill, while right-wing organizations and the BJP are mobilizing their supporters in favour of the legislation.
AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. S. Q. R. Ilyas revealed impressive numbers until last midnight: “AIMPLB has sent 3.48 crore emails, MURAC 89 lakh, and others 95 lakh. By the grace of Allah, the total number of emails sent to the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill from the Indian Muslim community has exceeded 5 crores as of last night. This demonstrates their determination and firm commitment to Islamic Sharia, their religious identity, and their resolve to fight all forms of persecution.”
According to the latest updates on the AIMPLB WhatsApp channel, the number of emails has risen to over four crore and continues to grow.
AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani thanked all Muslims for responding to the Board’s call and sending emails against the Waqf Amendment Bill to the JPC in large numbers. He expressed hope that the government would withdraw the bill, considering democratic norms, and refrain from enacting legislation that appears to be anti-minority.
The Muslim community’s campaign against the Waqf Amendment Bill has gained significant momentum across the country. Various Muslim organizations have united to run a joint campaign, appealing to people to send their opinions to the JPC via email. Meanwhile, the BJP has also become active on this issue.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to meet on September 18, 19, and 20 at the Parliament House Annexe. These meetings will involve presentations from ministry officials, experts, and various stakeholders. On September 19, the committee will review input from experts and stakeholders, including Prof. Faizan Mustafa of Chanakya National Law University, the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaaz, and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. On September 20, suggestions from the All India Sajjadanashin Council, Muslim Rashtriya Manch, and Bharat First will be considered.
Amidst this flurry of activity, confusion arose regarding the deadline for submitting opinions to the JPC. While some sources cited September 13 as the last date, others claimed that two more days remained, extending the deadline to September 15. In this regard, AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi issued a clarifying statement via video, confirming September 15 as the final date for submissions.
Highlighting that the original deadline for submitting feedback was September 13, the AIMPLB official corrected it, saying the deadline for submitting emails is midnight on September 15. It asked those who have not so far submitted their emails, to forward it before September 15 midnight.
In a passionate appeal, AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi called on supporters to act swiftly on the Waqf Bill’s QR code. He instructed them to photocopy the QR code, distribute it to 9-10 individuals stationed at mosque gates, and have worshippers scan the code and email their responses after Friday prayers.
Muslim organizations have urged the public to persist with the email campaign, clearing up any confusion and highlighting its importance. In cities and towns across the country, mosques have become central hubs for this campaign, particularly on Fridays. Major Muslim organizations, including Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and Imarat-e-Shariah Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, along with their local chapters, have been notably active. After Friday prayers, imams addressed the issue in their sermons, encouraging congregants to participate in the email campaign and to involve their family members, especially women, to ensure widespread participation.
The AIMPLB has confirmed that Maharashtra leads in opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, followed by Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. The board’s secretary, Maulana Umarin Mahfooz Rahmani, expressed optimism that the number of responses to the JPC would significantly increase by the final deadline, reflecting the continued strong support and awareness among the community.
He said, “Initially, there was limited awareness about the bill’s potential impact on Waqf properties. However, through numerous social media meetings, people began to understand the bill’s implications and joined the campaign in significant numbers. The board’s technical team has been actively monitoring the situation.”
Maulana Rahmani noted that after the first phase, further steps are being planned. “Meetings with Members of Parliament and opposition parties are ongoing to ensure the bill does not pass. Efforts are also being made to persuade key political figures like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu to withdraw their support, which could potentially end the issue. If these efforts do not result in the bill being withdrawn, the board will consider additional actions, including a legal battle.”
In many mosques associated with religious schools, students were seen approaching worshippers before and after prayers, requesting them to scan QR codes and submit their opinions after Friday prayers. The campaign has seen active participation from elders, youth, and women alike, sending a clear message that the Muslim community opposes any move perceived as detrimental to Waqf properties.
On the other hand, the BJP has also stepped up its efforts to garner support for the bill though it is not among the stakeholders. The waqf is an internal religious matter of Muslims only.
In cities like Mumbai, women associated with active social and political groups have been going door-to-door in various localities, urging other women to register their opposition to the amendment bill. Similar awareness drives and email campaigns have been reported from numerous cities and towns across India, including Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Nanded, Bengaluru, Meerut, and various parts of Rajasthan.
In Malegaon, even young madrasa students participated by organizing a rally, carrying digital banners and placards, appealing to the general public to scan QR codes and send their opposition to the JPC. A rally led by young students of madrasas highlighted the issue, requesting people to scan QR codes and submit their objections to the JPC. A delegation from Rahmani Foundation has also traveled to Delhi with over 30,000 written submissions of letters physically.
In Hyderabad, Darul Uloom Rashidiya organized a campaign against the Waqf Amendment Bill, educating the public about its harmful effects and encouraging people to send emails of protest to the JPC using the provided QR code.
In Akola, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind held a press conference denouncing the bill as an attempt to undermine constitutional rights and urged people to send their emails to the JPC in large numbers. In Yavatmal, Vidarbha local youth across about 55 mosques displayed banners with QR codes, urging people to scan and submit their feedback to the JPC.
In Aurangabad, JIH organized a press conference emphasizing the dangerous aspects of the bill and calling for widespread email submissions.
In Bihar, under the guidance of Amir-e-Shariat Maulana Ahmed Wali Faisal Rahmani, a strong drive is underway across different cities to help people send their submissions to the JPC.
In Nanded, Jamaat-e-Islami held a press conference where legal experts highlighted the bill’s flaws and urged people to send their objections to the JPC through emails.
In Bangalore, led by Syed Mazhar Qadri of the All India Milli Council, a campaign encouraged locals to submit their objections via QR codes.
In Uttar Pradesh, notably in Meerut, Deoband, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur, after Friday prayers, Imams urged congregants to email their objections to the Waqf Amendment Bill using the QR code provided by AIMPLB.
Across Rajasthan, Muslim organizations organized awareness marches post-Friday prayers, urging the community to submit objections to the JPC. Demonstrations were held in cities such as Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, and Alwar, with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind distributing barcodes and encouraging email submissions.
The issue has also reached Jammu and Kashmir, where the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of Muslim religious bodies, has written a detailed letter to the JPC opposing the bill and requesting a meeting with the committee.
Amid the focus on email submissions, the Mira-Bhayandar Mosques Federation in Mumbai has launched a new initiative across nearly all mosques in the city to ensure that postal submissions and hard copies of objections against the Waqf Bill are sent. In this regard, a delegation from the Rahman Foundation has travelled to Delhi with over 30,000 written objections from Malegaon against the Waqf Bill. The Foundation’s Nasir Hussain said, “Awareness campaigns and speeches held in most of the city’s mosques before Friday prayers had a positive impact, with thousands showing interest in submitting offline objections. Many of those submitting written objections are elderly or not very familiar with mobile phone use. The documents will be submitted to the JPC in Delhi.”
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 has sparked significant mobilization within the Muslim community, leading to an unprecedented effort. The coming days will tell us whether this massive email campaign will influence the government’s stance and compel it to withdraw the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act.
