Under the All India Muslim Personal Law Board banner, prominent figures from various Muslim organizations and political leaders have started gathering at Jantar Mantar to protest against the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill. Among the attendees are Maulana Mahmood Madani, Salman Khurshid, and Asaduddin Owaisi.
Addressing the protest, Congress leader Imran Masood stated, 'The current situation in the country is such that attempts are being made to flout the law. I am here on behalf of my leader Rahul Gandhi to play my part in this struggle.'
Reacting to the protest, Jagdambika Pal, the chairman of the Waqf Joint Parliamentary Committee and BJP MP, remarked, 'This demonstration is politically motivated and conducted in an organized manner. This stems from political conflicts, with opposition exploiting appeasement politics.'
Source: aajtak
'What is the protest about?'
Pal questioned the AIMPLB, 'What exactly is being protested? We have presented a 428-page report. There is no room for ambiguity as they haven't read the report in its entirety. Questioning the collector's case is unfounded as authority extends to senior officials.'
'The Bill is for the poorer Muslims'
He claimed that this bill is for underprivileged Muslims, the 'Pasmanda Muslims'. Members of the AIMPLB were also invited for discussions. Despite this, opposing the bill is unfounded and politically motivated.
Pal accused that misinformation is being spread to mislead the public. The country is governed by law. When Article 370 was discussed, there were fears of violence, which did not happen in Jammu and Kashmir. Similar protests happened at Jantar Mantar during the triple talaq debates. Today, all efforts are being directed toward the betterment of the nation, as is the case with the Waqf bill.
'Will protest if demands are unmet'
Before the protest, AIMPLB insisted, 'Joined by several other Muslim organizations, we will convey from Jantar Mantar that our demands must be met, or we will proceed with a movement.'
AIMPLB declared, 'Protesters from various states claim these lands belong to their ancestors. It's an attack on our homes, lands, and mosques. Our mosques were covered during Holi. This black law won't be enacted. If there's any fraud, the government should investigate it, and people of other religions will be covered under this law as well.
Furthermore, they said, 'Magistrates will gain increased authority, which goes against our rights. Delegates of Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, AIMPLB, and representatives of opposition parties will attend the protest at Jantar Mantar. Invitations have been sent to JPC members to join as well.'
The protest was initially set for March 13
Recently, AIMPLB announced it would rally against the amendment bill on March 17 at Jantar Mantar to awaken the conscience of secular political parties, including those in the NDA government. The protest was initially scheduled for March 13 but was postponed due to the Holi festival.
