Mumbai, 20th September – This evening at 5 PM, a distinguished delegation from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, led by General Secretary Maulana Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi, met with Maharashtra Congress President Mr. Nana Patole. The meeting, held at Hotel Sofitel in the Bandra Kurla Complex, involved presenting a memorandum to him. In the memorandum, the Board described the entire Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 as unconstitutional and demanded its withdrawal.
During the conversation, Maulana Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi explained to Mr. Patole that in recent times, false information has been spreading that whenever the Waqf Board claims a piece of land or property, the government is compelled to hand it over to the Waqf. However, the reality is that thousands of acres of Waqf land are under illegal occupation, and efforts are being made to reclaim them. But if this bill passes, all such occupied lands will be lost from Waqf control. The Board members further explained that there is currently a multi-level judicial system for Waqf cases, allowing appeals up to the High Court and Supreme Court after the Waqf Tribunal. However, with the proposed amendment, all judicial matters will be transferred to the district collector, and no collector in the country would dare to rule against the government.
Objections were also raised to the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board and the proposal to remove the requirement for the CEO to be a Muslim. Highlighting more flaws in the amendment, the members said they believe the bill is being introduced to take over Waqf lands, which is entirely unacceptable. The Muslim community rejects not just amendments but the entire proposed bill. Maulana Mujaddidi emphasized that Waqf lands are not public property but private property that Muslims have transferred to God’s ownership so that their earnings can be used for charitable purposes. Therefore, Muslims demand the immediate withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Furthermore, opposition parties have a responsibility to pressure the government to withdraw this black law, or Muslims will be forced to resist it to the last breath according to their constitutional rights.
After hearing the concerns of the Muslim representatives, Mr. Patole assured them that he would inform his party’s high command about the sentiments of Muslims in Maharashtra. He stated that his party has always stood by the truth, and in this battle for justice, the Congress will always stand with the Muslims. He personally assured his full support as well.
The meeting was attended by All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s General Secretary Maulana Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi, Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Khan Daryabadi, Dr. Zaheer Qazi, Farid Sheikh, Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi, Maulana Anis Ahmad Ashrafi, Shia scholar Agha Ruh Zafar, Professor Munisa Bushra Abidi, Shakir Sheikh, Dr. Azeemuddin, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Nadwi, Hafiz Iqbal Chunawala, Maulana Abbas Khan, Maulana Ghaffran Sajid Qasmi, Humayun Sheikh, and others.
