After introducing the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024’ in the Lok Sabha, the Central Government sent it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). In fact, many Muslim leaders and opposition MPs had registered their protest against it. After this, the JPC sought suggestions on this bill from the common people, non-governmental organizations and experts. The committee is continuously receiving suggestions regarding this.
In this sequence, people are continuously sending their suggestions to the committee in support and opposition of this bill. In Godhra, Gujarat, people have found a unique way to support this bill. Here posters supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 have been put up outside the Ganesh pandal, in which people are being encouraged to scan a code and send an email in support of the current bill.
Support is being gathered through QR code
The purpose of the posters is to publicise the appeal to pass the Waqf Bill, 2024. Similarly, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have also put up posters in support of the Waqf Board Bill at the Gujarat State Waqf Board office in Gandhinagar. Here too, a QR code has been put up to support the bill. Here people are being connected to it in large numbers by getting the code scanned.
Let us tell you that fundamentalists like fugitive Zakir Naik are sitting abroad and inciting the Muslims of India against the Waqf Bill. They are telling them that if the Waqf Bill is implemented then the government will snatch away their mosques and graveyards from the Muslims. Regarding this, many Muslims in India are currently going to various areas with banners with different QR codes and are asking to scan these QR codes and send their objections against the Waqf Bill to the committee. The QR codes installed in Hindu pandals are now being considered as a response to this protest.
Reacting to Zakir’s post, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs tweeted, “Common people should not be mislead. No one is taking away the rights of Muslims. These steps are being taken only for the benefit of the poor, women and weaker sections of Muslims. Please do not mislead innocent Muslims outside our country. India is a democratic nation, and people have the right to express their opinion.”
The Union minister also shared videos in which Muslim groups can be seen making announcements over loudspeakers, urging every member of their community to give suggestions against the bill, which has been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for deliberations.
What is the Waqf Act?
The Waqf Act is a law made for the management and regulation of the properties and religious institutions of the Muslim community. The main objective of this Act is to ensure proper preservation and management of Waqf properties so that these properties can be used for religious and charitable purposes. Since Waqf is an Arabic word which means ‘to stop’ or ‘to dedicate’. In Islam, Waqf property is dedicated as a permanent religious and charitable trust, which is used for religious purposes, helping the poor, education etc. A Waqf Board has been formed in every state to manage Waqf properties. This board registers, preserves and manages Waqf properties.
What is the plan of Modi government?
On Friday, the cabinet approved about 40 amendments to the Waqf Act. The Modi government wants to curb the powers of the Waqf Board to make any property a “Waqf property” in the cabinet. The purpose of these amendments is to restrict the right of the Waqf Board to designate any property as ‘Waqf property’. The claims made by the Waqf Board on the properties will be verified compulsorily. After the amendment bill is passed, there will be a big change in the management and transfer of Waqf properties. Sources say that the reasons for the amendment in the law have also been mentioned. It has cited the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission and the Joint Committee of Parliament headed by K Rahman Khan.
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