Maulana Arshad Madani
– Photo : Amar Ujala
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The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Monday issued a statement amid the possibility of the government introducing a bill to amend the Waqf Act in Parliament. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said, “Any change in the status and nature of Waqf properties or making it easy for the government or any individual to misuse them is unacceptable.” The prominent Muslim body also stressed that it is ready to approach the Supreme Court if any steps are taken to weaken the Waqf boards.
Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani urged non-BJP political parties, which are part of the government and call themselves secular, to oppose any such bill and not allow it to be passed in Parliament. He said there is a fear that the central government wants to change the status and nature of Muslim Waqf properties so that it will be easier to destroy the status of ‘Muslim Waqf’ by confiscating them.
Madani said in a statement, ‘Jamiat wants to make it clear that Waqf properties are donations given by Muslim elders, dedicated for religious and Muslim charitable purposes and the government has enacted a Waqf Act to regulate them.’ He said, ‘Any change in the Waqf Act that changes the status and nature of Waqf properties or makes it easier for the government or any individual to misuse them is unacceptable.’
“Similarly, we cannot accept any amendment to curtail or restrict the powers of the Wakf Boards,” Madani said. “Ever since this government came to power, it has been bringing in new laws to keep Muslims in chaos and fear by various tactics and is blatantly interfering in our religious affairs,” he alleged.
Madani said, ‘The government knows very well that Muslims can bear any loss but cannot tolerate any kind of interference in their Shariat.’ He claimed that such steps are a deliberate interference in the constitutional powers given to Muslims. Madani said, ‘The Constitution has given every citizen the freedom of religion as well as the full right to follow his religious rituals.’ He alleged that the present government wants to snatch this religious freedom given to Muslims by the Constitution. Madani further said that properties under Waqf cannot be used against the intention of the ‘Waqf (donor)’.
