AhlulBayt News Agency: The protest was also attended by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi and Muslims from across Delhi.
Speaking at the protest, Owaisi said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will not save Waqf properties or remove encroachers but instead take away “graveyards, Khanqah, Dargah from Muslims”.
“Our job is to protest because it is unconstitutional…Their intentions are bad and they want to increase distances in the country,” he said, adding that if Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar support the act, the people will remember them.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP Mohammad Basheer told the protesters that the current government was taking “anti-constitutional” actions.
“The JPC (joint parliamentary committee) chairman said this agitation is wrong and that the JPC gave all the chances to everyone. He is unnecessarily provoking everyone with these statements… the government is looting the waqf properties.”
Calling the bill a “draconian law”, Basheer added, “On behalf of IUML, I promise to fight the government inside and outside the Parliament”.
Last month, the Union cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposed amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after incorporating changes recommended by the JPC. The approval paves the way for the bill to be tabled in Parliament in the second half of the budget session that began on 10 March.
News reports said the Union cabinet incorporated most of the changes suggested by the JPC, headed by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal.
“The Joint Parliamentary Committee and Waqf had called AIMPLB before the committee after this amendment. We took cognisance of the things highlighted by AIMPLB before the committee. Not only that, we also made it a part of our report…so why are they going to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi?” Pal had earlier media persons. “After the amendment, a better law is going to be formed…poor, women, widows and children will also benefit from Waqf.”
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