Rally held against Wakf Amendment Bill
Responding to a nationwide call made by the joint action committee of Islamic outfits, office-bearers and activists of various Muslim and non-Muslim constitutional, religious, social and political outfits organised a massive protest against the Wakf Amendment Bill at Sirhindi Gate here after Zuhr Jummah Namaz on Friday.Accusing the Union Government of undermining rights of minorities in general and Muslims, in particular, the demonstrators threatened to continue their protest till the Bill was withdrawn.
Speakers claimed that the protest had been launched for the protection of mosques, dargahs, khanqahs, ashoor-khanas, madrasas, graveyards and other Waqf properties, which had been regulated by the Wakf Board in a democratic manner for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslims as well.
Speakers, including Punjab Wakf Board Chairman Mohammad Owais, MLA Malerkotla Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman, MLA Amargarh Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Nadim Khan (a heir of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan) and Mubeen Farooqi, alleged that the Union Government had exposed its “sinister agenda” of saffronisation of public institutes which had been established to watch personal interests and rights of various communities during the post-Independence period.
Chairman Punjab Wakf Board Mohammad Owais said their non-Muslim leaders had also endorsed the fact that a large number of Hindus and Sikhs were among the beneficiaries of facilities being provided by the institutes being run by the Board.
Joint Action Committee, Muslim Federation of Punjab, Dr Abdul Kalam Welfare Society, Muslim Sikh Front, Taqwa Welfare Society, Sahara Muslim Welfare Society, Muslim Friends Club, National Welfare Movement, Muslim Development Council, Al Quran Society, Badshah Sports Club, Eidgah Intezamia Committee and Muslim Mahasabha Punjab were among organisations, office-bearers whose activists announced to continue the stir against the Bill.
In a separate statement, CPM state secretary Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon also extended his support to the agitation launched today.
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MLA Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman addresses protest against the Wakf Amendment Bill held in Malerkotla on Friday. Photo Mahesh Sharma
Punjab