The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is launching a nationwide campaign aimed at clarifying misconceptions surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. This initiative comes in response to criticisms from some Muslim organisations and opposition parties who have expressed concerns about the proposed changes.
The BJP's primary objective is to dispel any misunderstandings and provide accurate information about the amendment. The party intends to demonstrate its intentions to the Muslim community, especially those involved with or knowledgeable about Waqf matters. They are encouraging these individuals to participate in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meetings to voice their views on the bill.
Recently, BJP’s National General Secretary (Organization) B. L. Santosh convened a significant meeting at the party headquarters. The meeting was attended by both current and former chairpersons of Waqf Boards from various states, along with Waqf experts. Notable attendees included Dushyant Gautam, BJP’s National General Secretary, and Jamal Siddiqui, National President of BJP Minority Morcha.
Several leaders associated with Waqf boards were present, including Shadab Shams, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board; Sanawar Patel, Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board; Chaudhary Zakir Hussain, Administrator of the Haryana Waqf Board; Maulana Habib Haider, a Shia cleric and BJP Minority Morcha National Executive Member; Nisar Hussain, BJP Minority Morcha National Executive Member and Waqf expert; and Mohammad Haroon, a former member of the Waqf Council.
Though Gujarat Waqf Board Chairman Mohsin Lokhandwala and former Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman Mohammad Rajbali were scheduled to attend, they were unable to do so due to prior commitments.
During the meeting, senior BJP leaders stressed the importance of involving BJP-affiliated Muslim community members, particularly those linked to the Waqf Board, in the JPC discussions.
They emphasised the need to counter the current atmosphere of confusion and fear about the Waqf Amendment Bill. The attendees were urged to convey the government’s positive objectives, highlight the benefits of the amendment, and explain how it could aid underprivileged Muslims and Muslim women.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament during the Budget Session and has been referred to the JPC for further scrutiny. The BJP's campaign aims to clarify the bill’s intentions and reassure the Muslim community of its potential benefits.
Follow us
