Muslim Personal Law Board urges MPs to oppose Waqf Amendment Bill
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and has appealed to all secular political parties, including allies of the ruling BJP, to reject it in Parliament. The bill is set to be presented on April 2, Wednesday and the Board has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) not to support it “under any circumstances.”
The President of AIMPLB, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, called the proposed amendment unfair and unconstitutional, stating that it violates Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and religious freedom.
According to him, the bill is part of a larger plan to weaken Waqf laws and make it easier for government authorities to seize Waqf properties.
He pointed out that, despite the existence of the Places of Worship Act, there is a growing trend of questioning the religious identity of mosques. If the amendment is passed, he warned, government officials such as Collectors and District Magistrates will have greater power to take control of Waqf properties. This, he said, could lead to an increase in illegal claims on these lands.
The Board President highlighted several key changes in the bill that he believes would harm the Waqf system. These include the removal of Waqf by-user, the lifting of exemptions from the Law of Limitation, and the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
Additionally, he criticized the proposed reduction in the powers of the Waqf Tribunal and the shift of dispute resolution to government officials rather than the Tribunal. He argued that these changes would strip Waqf properties of their legal protection and open the door for government control.
He also pointed out that similar legal protections exist for religious endowments of other communities, and targeting only Muslim Waqf properties would be discriminatory.
Maulana Rahmani expressed concern that such actions threaten India’s tradition of communal harmony and mutual respect between Hindus and Muslims. He stated, “our country is globally recognized for Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and for mutual respect for each other's religions, customs and festivals. However, unfortunately, the power of the nation is currently in the hands of those who seek to destroy this atmosphere of communal harmony and create anarchy and chaos.”
In his appeal, he urged MPs to stand with the Muslim community and oppose the bill, stating that millions of Muslims across India are counting on them to protect their rights.
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Man arrested in UP's Auraiya for rape, murder of minor cousin on same day she tied rakhi on him
Auraiya: A 33-year-old man has been arrested in Auraiya for the alleged rape and murder of his 14-year-old cousin on the night of Raksha Bandhan, just hours after she had tied a rakhi on him.
According to police, the accused, identified as Surjeet, attempted to mislead investigators by staging the crime scene to look like a suicide. The incident occurred on Saturday night when Surjeet, reportedly in a state of heavy intoxication, went to his uncle's home where the victim lived. He is accused of sexually assaulting the sleeping teenager, killing her, and then hanging her body.
The victim's father discovered his daughter's body the next morning and alerted the authorities.
Officials immediately suspected foul play upon arriving at the scene. "Blood stains and other signs clearly indicated this was not suicide," stated Auraiya Superintendent of Police (SP), Abhijeet Shankar.
During the initial inquiry, Surjeet drew suspicion upon himself by aggressively answering questions that were intended for the victim's immediate family. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that the minor had been sexually assaulted.
Following the forensic report, Surjeet was arrested. "He confessed to the crime during interrogation," SP Shankar confirmed.
