Hyderabad: Telangana Waqf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussani has urged Muslim intellectuals, Imams, Muazzins, Ulemas, Mashaikheens, and other important figures to raise their objections to the ‘New Waqf Amendment Bill – 2024.’ This bill includes 40 changes, many of which he believes are harmful to the Muslim community and the Waqf Board.
To raise awareness about the new bill, the Telangana Waqf Board has formed teams to visit key locations, such as mosques and educational institutions. These teams will encourage people to send objections to the Joint Parliamentary Party Committee (JPPC). The campaign is set to begin on September 13.
Azmatullah noted that the Muslim population in India is around 25 crore, but they have less than 1% representation in decision-making. He warned that if the community does not respond in large numbers, similar to the protests against the NRC, there is a risk that the bill could be passed in Parliament without much opposition.
On September 6, Azmatullah and a seven-member team attended a JPPC meeting in Delhi to represent the Telangana Waqf Board. During the meeting, they presented their detailed objections to the 40 proposed amendments. They provided both written and digital copies of their concerns. According to Azmatullah, the JPPC, which includes 30 members, seemed satisfied with the thorough preparation of the Telangana Waqf Board’s team. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was also part of the JPPC.
One of the major objections raised by the Waqf Board Chairman is the inclusion of two non-Muslims in the Waqf Board Committee. Additionally, the amendment would give district Collectors the authority to decide whether a property belongs to the Waqf or not. Azmatullah warned that these changes could significantly harm the existence of the Waqf Board and Muslim rights. He emphasized that if the bill is passed in its current form, it could result in the loss of Waqf properties and negatively impact the Muslim community.
