Muslim Leaders Oppose Waqf Amendment Bill in Memorandum to Parliament

A delegation of Muslim leaders met Congress MP Imran Masood in Ajmer to submit a memorandum against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The bill, which the government claims does not interfere with mosques, has been criticized by the opposition as targeting Muslims. The delegation views the bill as an unconstitutional interference in religious matters.

AJMER – A delegation of Muslim leaders associated with the Congress met party MP Imran Masood, a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, to submit a memorandum against the bill's provisions.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 and subsequently referred to a 31-member joint parliamentary panel following intense debate. The panel is expected to present its findings by the next parliamentary session. Although the government insists that the proposed law will not affect the functioning of mosques, the opposition has criticized it as an assault on Muslims and the Constitution.

The delegation, during Masood's visit to Ajmer, asserted their opposition to the amendments, stating that Waqf is intrinsically a religious matter for Muslims. "We will not allow the government to interfere in our religious matters. The Constitution allows us to function according to our religion. The truth is that the government's intentions are not right," the memorandum to JPC head Jagdambika Pal read. The delegation featured notable figures such as Ghulam Mustafa Chishti, Muzaffar Bharti, Rab Nawaz Jafri, Manzoor Ali, Ashraf Buland Khan, Ajmat Khan, and Wahid Mohammad.

(With inputs from agencies.)