Bhopal: Muslims Cheered Tabling Of Waqf Bill, Muslim Women Hit Streets With Posters, Carrying Roses In Their Hands | FPJ
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): While the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday amid Opposition furore, a section of Muslims in the city came out on the streets in its favour.
They burst crackers to show their support and raised slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Muslim women stepped out, holding placards with “Thank You, Modi Ji” written on them. They also carried roses in their hands to express happiness on the Bill, which aims to bring transparency into the Waqf Act. The Waqf Act governs the administration of Waqf properties in the country.
In Hathaikheda, a large number of Muslim youths came out to burst crackers to express their joy over the proposed Bill. In Anandpura and Kokta, burqa-clad Muslim women came out in support of the Bill.
Minister Vishvas Sarang said thousands of Muslims support the Bill, and it is a huge blow to those trying to misguide them against it. Asserting that the Bill is not against any community but has been brought in for the use of Waqf properties in a wise manner and is in the larger interest of Muslims, he said only those occupying Waqf properties are not happy with the development.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Arif Masood opposed the Bill by saying that it envisages encroaching upon Waqf properties. He said the Waqf Tribunal needs to be made stronger to ensure transparency in functioning of Waqf properties. He said only a handful of Muslims have come out in support of the Bill which aims to delegate power to Collectors and is against the tenets of Waqf properties.
Waqf Board chairman supports the Bill
Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Sanwar Patel supported the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, stating that it would bring transparency to the administration of Waqf properties. He said there are 15,008 Waqf properties in the state, including 5,000 hectares of agricultural land, and more than 91% of them are under encroachment. The Bill will ensure that Waqf properties are used in the interest of poor and needy Muslims. Some people are protesting against the Bill at the instance of Congress. Passage of the Bill will ensure removal of encroachments from Waqf properties, he said.
Some community members protest
A group of Muslims gathered outside the Moti Masjid to register their protest against the Bill. They shouted slogans against the Bill. Some of them held black cloth as a mark of protest.
