The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has announced a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, scheduled to take place on 17 March at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The decision to hold the protest comes amid growing opposition to the proposed amendments, which the AIMPLB claims will have serious implications for Waqf properties across the country.
Addressing the media, AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas accused the government of attempting to create division between communities and instigating unrest. He highlighted that protests and press conferences have been ongoing in different parts of the country to oppose the bill.
Initially, the demonstration was planned for 13 March, but it was rescheduled due to Holi, a festival when many Members of Parliament would be unavailable.
The AIMPLB has extended an open invitation to people from all communities who support their cause. Several MPs have also been invited to participate in the protest. Ilyas expressed hope that political parties allied with the ruling government would not support the proposed changes.
He argued that Waqf properties do not receive any special privileges and that the bill’s provisions could lead to the loss of unregistered properties such as mosques, dargahs, and burial grounds that have historically been recognised as Waqf properties.
General Secretary of AIMPLB, Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, stated that the board had tried every democratic means to convey their concerns to the government, but their voices were not heard.
He stressed that they had no choice but to protest against the amendments, which he believes the government is determined to impose at any cost. He warned that the bill could create conflicts in communities, particularly over religious sites such as mosques and cemeteries.
Mujaddidi further said that while Muslims want to contribute to the country’s development, the prevailing circumstances make it difficult. He urged the government to reconsider its approach, stating that the protest would continue until their demands were addressed.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the handling of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of failing to uphold democratic norms.
He alleged that the committee ignored dissenting voices and did not allow a thorough discussion of the bill’s clauses. He claimed that the bill was pushed through Parliament without proper debate, raising concerns about its impact on Waqf properties.
The Waqf Act of 1995 was originally introduced to regulate Waqf properties, but over time, issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments have been reported.
The government argues that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to address these problems through measures like digitisation, stricter audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
However, critics fear that the amendments could weaken the protection of Waqf properties and lead to large-scale disputes.
Follow us
