Chennai, India – In a significant show of unity, Tamil Nadu's Islamic organizations and political parties are gearing up for a major protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposed by the Union government. The protest is scheduled to take place at Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai on October 4, as announced in a joint statement released by the participating groups. M.H. Jawahirullah, the President of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) and a sitting MLA, expressed strong discontent regarding the government's handling of the Bill.
He referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's comments about passing the amendments during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament as "inappropriate," especially considering that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is currently reviewing the legislation. "This whole JPC exercise seems to be a waste of time and money," Jawahirullah stated, highlighting concerns over the expenditure incurred by the committee while traveling across the country to gather public opinions.
He criticized the Home Minister's declaration that the Waqf Bill would be enacted "at any cost," describing it as a mere "eye-wash." Jawahirullah emphasized that the protest would mirror the intensity of the farmer agitation that previously captured national attention, indicating a determination among the Muslim organizations to voice their opposition effectively. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to rename the existing Waqf Act of 1995 to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The JPC, which consists of 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—was established following the introduction of the Bill by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress, and AIMIM, have expressed strong objections to the Bill, arguing that it undermines federalism and constitutional principles. High-profile leaders from various parties, including All India Muslim Personal Law Board President Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and DMK MP K. Kanimozhi, are expected to join the protest, signaling widespread community support against the legislation.
As the countdown to October 4 begins, the Tamil Nadu Islamic organizations are rallying their members, poised to make their voices heard in what promises to be a significant moment of resistance against the proposed Waqf amendments.
