Muslim Unions Demand Centre to Repeal Waqf Amendment Bill

Vijayawada: Muslim religious heads, unions, and Jamaats have unanimously opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, proposed by the BJP-led NDA government, demanding its immediate withdrawal. They claim the amendment undermines the welfare of the Muslim community.

Under the aegis of the Loukika Rajyanga Parirakshana Vedika (Secular Constitution Protection Forum), various Muslim outfits and Jamaats organised a ‘Waqf Bachao’ meeting at Makineni Basava Punnaiah Vignana Kendram (MBVK) in Vijayawada on Sunday.

CPM state secretary V. Srinivas Rao alleged that the amendment bill was a plot by the BJP, RSS, and other right-wing forces led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to suppress Muslim rights. He accused Modi of adopting a divide-and-rule strategy reminiscent of the British Raj.

AP CPI state secretary K. Rama Krishna said the proposed amendments posed a severe threat to the Muslim community. He urged like-minded parties, including Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, allies in the NDA coalition, to oppose the bill, which he described as a direct attack on India’s secular principles.

The speakers criticised the bill as an attempt to polarise the electorate and treat Muslims as second-class citizens to gain electoral advantage among Hindus. Former MP Vadde Sobanadreeswara Rao, ex-Congress MLA Masthan Vali, and others were present.