Different Muslim organisations came together in Kolkata on Tuesday to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Introduced in Parliament earlier this year, the bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, with the goal of streamlining the works of the Waqf Board and improving the management of Waqf properties.
Hundreds of protesters, led by organisations such as All India Muslim Personal Law Board, All Bengal Imam Muazzin Association, and Joint Forum For WAQF Protection, among others, gathered at RR Road near Shaheed Minar in Esplanade to demand the revocation of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
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They claimed the proposed amendment was a direct attack on their faith and urged the central government not to pass it. “We will come out with greater strength in upcoming days and send a message to the fascist government in Delhi that we will not allow this bill,” one of the organisers of Tuesday’s rally said.
Criticising opposition MPs for repeatedly walking out of JPC meetings on the Waqf Amendment Bill, protesters warned secular MPs against further walkouts, saying such actions could lead to permanent removal from Parliament. They also threatened to paralyse Kolkata, urging the West Bengal government to pass a resolution opposing the bill.
Notably, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal, has opposed the amendment so far. Along with MPs and other INDIA bloc parties, TMC parliamentarians have let their dissent known during the JPC meetings.
Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was suspended from the JPC due to “unruly behaviour”, accused the JPC chairman Jagadambika Pal of “high-handedness” and “arbitrary action” on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Banerjee also alleged that Pal was deliberately rushing the discussions on Waqf in the meetings. He further accused the chairman of fabricating opinions by collecting testimony from individuals who have no direct involvement with Waqf matters.