AIMIM chief Owaisi calls for withdrawal of Waqf Law, vows long struggle

Hyderabad: AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday denounced the recently amended Waqf Bill as a "black law" and called for its immediate withdrawal by the Narendra Modi government.

Addressing a massive gathering at Darussalam in Hyderabad's Old City during a protest organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Owaisi urged Muslims across the country to prepare for sustained resistance against the legislation.

"Farmers have shown us the path forward. We will continue our struggle and not back down until this black law is withdrawn," Owaisi declared to thunderous applause from supporters. He stressed that their movement was not politically motivated but focused on protecting religious properties. "This is a fight for our idgahs and mosques. This struggle is not about elections," he asserted.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in Parliament last month, proposes significant changes to the administration of waqf properties. Critics argue these amendments would dilute the autonomy of Waqf Boards and potentially lead to the loss of Muslim religious properties.

Owaisi characterised the legislation as "an assault on fundamental rights and the Constitution." He claimed the bill violates Article 25, which guarantees freedom of religion, and Article 26, which protects the right to manage religious affairs.

He said Sangh Parivar people are anti constitution for threatening 'religious war'. The AIMIM chief also launched a broader critique of the BJP government's policies affecting minorities. "For the past eleven years, Modi has been attempting to seize control of our masjids. His government is demolishing homes of Dalits and Muslims across the country through discriminatory bulldozer policies," he alleged.

Owaisi further charged that the government has been misusing the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to target dissenters and is now pushing for a Uniform Civil Code to undermine religious personal laws.

Several prominent religious leaders and representatives from various Muslim organisations attended the protest. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board announced plans for nationwide demonstrations in the coming weeks, including signature campaigns and public awareness programs about the implications of the Waqf Bill amendments.