The waqf act ever since its introduction in the parliament last year by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, has received backlashes from various parties. After it has finally received the President’s assent the protests have only increased. Many party workers of JD(U) and RLD resigned due to the act. The BJP has decided to begin a campaign to address the issues surrounding the act and make people realise the benefit of the same to Pasmanda Muslims and the women of the community.
It must be noted that the act has been challenged in the Supreme Court by various petitioners but amidst all the ruckus insiders from the party have reported that there are plans to talk to people about secularism, benefit to the women, and the overall necessity for the act. In the same, the party might try to show the opposition as the enemy of “genuine secularism” and social justice.
The committee to campaign about the act has already been set up under the chairmanship of Rajya Sabha MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal. The other members of the committee include the Minority Morcha chief Jamal Siddique, Anil Antony son of former CM of Kerela AK Antony, and Dushyant Gautam the minority face of the committee. The main task of this committee is to meet people especially Muslims and tell them about the benefits of the new act thereby removing all the false rumours and triggers.
The meeting regarding this campaign took place on Thursday in the presence of party president JP Nadda, and Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju. The meeting emphasised on the message of the waqf board which upholds secularism, rights of the Muslim women, Pasmanda Muslims and social justice. It also said that the waqf properties will be managed with transparency following the act. The major opposition to the act is due to the presence of non-muslims in the waqf board and defending the same Kiren Rijiju has been reported saying that the feature upholds the secular nature of the country and has “nothing to do with religion.” In the proposed campaign the members are expected to arrange conferences, address questions and emphasise the need and constitutionality of the act. The leaders will also provide explanations and answers in Urdu for the ease of the Muslim community.
