OPINION | Waqf: Look at the merits of the law

All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to launch 1985-type countrywide agitation against the new Waqf law to put pressure on Modi government to withdraw the Act. The draft of a speech has been sent by AIMPLB to all mosques asking the Imams to convey to the faithful at all Friday prayer congregations. A big rally will be held in Delhi on April 22 and the first phase of agitation will continue till July 7. In West Bengal, there was arson, stone pelting and attacks on police by anti-Waqf law protesters in at least three places in Murshidabad. Internet has been shut down in the area. Trains were stopped at several places. BJP leaders have alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's police has given a free hand to protesters to indulge in violence and in some places, Hindus have been attacked and their temples were vandalized. The problem is: Mamata's government is allowing Muslims to protest against Waqf law, but is refusing permission to Hindu outfits to take out Ramnavami and Hanuman Jayanti processions. The confrontation may continue till next year's assembly polls in Bengal. As far as the new Waqf Act is concerned, maulanas have declared a war and their target is not Waqf law, but Prime Minister Modi. In most of the speeches of Islamic clerics, their key thrust is how to make Modi bow to the demands of Muslims. Common Muslims have nothing to do with Waqf law, but they are being told that the government will take over their mosques, Eidgah and graveyards. All those who have illegally acquired Waqf properties in the past have reasons to be worried. Muslim leaders are pointing out that the community showed its strength in 1985 to force Rajiv Gandhi government to pass the Muslim Personal Law Bill to overturn the Supreme Court judgement on maintenance in Shahbano case. Similarly, in 2013, the community succeeded in pressurizing Manmohan Singh's government to bring about amendments in Waqf law. Their logic now is: how can the Modi government refuse to accept their demands? The real war is not over the merits of Waqf law, but the desire to project the supremacy of the community leaders.  Muslim Personal Law Board and some other Muslim outfits are trying to keep the heat on, but anti-social elements  can take undue advantage, as it happened in Agra, where the head of an animal was found inside a bag inside the Jama Masjid. Police took timely action and nabbed a Muslim youth who was trying to create communal tension. 

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