NEW DELHI, 17 March (H.S.) : Jagdambika Pal, the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary

Committee for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and a Member of Parliament from the

BJP, described the protest as politically driven. He pointed out that the bill

has not yet been officially presented, despite the recent delivery of a

detailed 428-page report. Pal clarified that the District Magistrate (DM) will

not receive any additional authority; instead, any issues related to Waqf

property will be resolved by higher-ranking officials, such as the State Secretary

or Commissioner. He claimed that the Act is currently being revised and accused

the demonstrators of misleading the public. He assured that there is no plan to

seize Waqf land, explaining that any transactions involving such land are

carried out by members of the Waqf community. The intended amendments are

designed to prevent the sale of Waqf land and ultimately assist those in need.

Jagdambika Pal stated, With the amendment, a more

effective law will be enacted. The disadvantaged, including women, widows, and

children, will gain from the Waqf… He also criticized the AIMPLB for

allegedly trying to mislead the public and create division, claiming that their

behaviour is undemocratic.

Nationwide protests are occurring today, Monday, against

the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. This demonstration has been jointly organized

by a range of Muslim and social organizations, alongside the involvement of

several opposition Members of Parliament. All India Muslim Personal Law Board

(AIMPLB) revealed the specifics of this protest last Tuesday. AIMPLB

spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas mentioned that allies of the BJP, such as

the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (U), have not been extended an

invitation to join the protest.

AIMPLB General Secretary Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi conveyed

that they have made extensive efforts to communicate with the government

through democratic means, but their issues remain unresolved. At this

juncture, we have no alternative but to engage in protests. We do not desire an

escalation of tensions, yet it seems the government is provoking discord in

every street and neighbourhood, he remarked.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to address the

challenges related to the management of waqf properties by introducing reforms

such as digitization, improved auditing procedures, greater transparency, and

legal measures for the recovery of properties that have been unlawfully

occupied.

Hindusthan Samachar / Meenakshi Bhattacharya