Latest news with #WaqfAmendmentAct
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Interfaith gathering opposes Waqf, Bodh Gaya Temple Acts
1 2 Nagpur: Prominent voices from both the Muslim and Buddhist communities on Sunday called for mass movement against the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 and the Bodh Gaya Temple Act. Representatives from both communities had gathered under one roof at an interfaith conference on Constitutional Rights organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Bharatiya Bhagidari Mission (BBM) at the Babasaheb Ambedkar International Convention Centre, Teka. The speakers alleged that the recent amendments infringed on the fundamental rights of religious freedom and the autonomy of religious institutions under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. Key speakers included AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Rasul Ilyas, AIMPLB general secretary Moulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, advocate Suresh Mane (founder-president, BBM), advocate Firdos Mirza and advocate Bhupendra Raipure. Ilyas called for a mass movement against the Act just like the farmers' protest in 2021 against the farm laws. "We must be prepared for a mass movement to ensure these discriminatory laws are rolled back, if not by this govt, then by the next govt," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Dr Vinod Rangari, district president of BBM, initiated the discussion followed by an introductory address by Abdul Rauf Shaikh, former CEO of the Maharashtra Waqf Board, who highlighted the object of the interfaith conference. Adv Mirza spoke on the constitutional rights of minorities. Qasim Rasul Ilyas offered a detailed critique of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. Advocate Raipure shed light on the Bodh Gaya Temple Act. Dr Ravindra Mane called the gathering a new beginning in interfaith unity. Moulana Muzaddidi, in his presidential address, emphasised the need for peaceful protest against "unconstitutional laws". Dr Aves Hasan conducted the proceedings while Moulana Abdul Wahab Parekh delivered a vote of thanks. The programme concluded with a dua by Moulana Siraj Ahmed Qasmi. Mufti Abdul Qadir, Maulana Mustafa and Mufti Sabir among others were present. Hanif Patel, Irshad, Rafiq, Atiq Qureshi and members of CSRI and ASRA Foundations played a key role in ensuring the success of the meet.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AIMPLB urges Union min for safety audit of Ajmer dargah
Jaipur: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board ( AIMPLB ) has urged Union minority affairs minister Kiran Rijiju to conduct an urgent structural safety audit of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, following two concerning incidents of roof and ceiling collapse in the past two weeks. The Board has also demanded that the 800-year-old shrine be released from central govt control, citing neglect and mismanagement. In a letter addressed to Rijiju, the AIMPLB, which is currently leading the opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, reminded the Union govt of the 1955 assurances made when the Dargah was brought under state management. The Board claims those assurances included the complete protection and maintenance of the shrine's heritage structures. "Several parts of the Dargah complex are 500 to 600 years old. With monsoon in full swing, a single spell of heavy rain could cause more damage or even result in tragedy if urgent repairs and safety inspections are not carried out," said Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, general secretary of AIMPLB. The Board has gone a step further by demanding that the Dargah be freed from central govt control, accusing the current administration of failing in its responsibility. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "This is example of the Modi govt's neglect of Muslim heritage sites. They haven't even conducted a structural audit of this 800-year-old shrine. If this is how they treat Ajmer Dargah, imagine what they plan to do with Waqf properties under the new amendments," said Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson of AIMPLB. Ilyas added, "We demand that the Dargah be released from the clutches of the Union govt. Muslim organisations across the country should register their protest." Syed Sarwar Chishty, secretary of the Dargah Anjuman, on Friday released a video showing water seepage in the outer wall of the main sanctum along with the Sandali Mosque, raising alarms about the structural integrity of the shrine. The incessant rains on Friday, which caused flood-like conditions in Ajmer, endangered several other parts of the Dargah complex. Community leaders and shrine authorities are calling for immediate intervention to avert a potential disaster.
The Print
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Owaisi & Rijiju engage in public spat over ‘benefits & protection' to minorities under Modi govt
The row over minorities and their welfare in the country under the Narendra Modi-led NDA government also comes ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly polls to be held in 3-4 months. In Bihar too, the NDA is in power, under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. Muslims constitute around 17 percent of Bihar's population, one of the highest proportions in the country. Owaisi's argument with the BJP leader over Muslims under Modi rule comes at a time when the Hyderabad MP was seen as having embraced the Centre's stance against Pakistan post Pahalgam. Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi got into a public spat on Monday with Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, contesting the latter's claim that minorities get more benefits and protection than the majority community in the country. 'India is the only country where minorities get more benefits and protections than the majority community!', declared Rijiju in a post on X on Monday morning, quoting his interview to a news publication. Owaisi, the Hyderabad MP, responded with a lengthy, anguished post in the afternoon, terming the religious minority group as having become 'hostages' in the country. 'Is it a 'benefit' to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya every single day? Is it 'protection' to be lynched? Is it protection that Indian citizens were kidnapped and pushed into Bangladesh? Is it a privilege to watch our homes, masjids, and mazaars being bulldozed illegally? To be made socially, politically, and economically invisible? Is it an 'honour' to be the target of hate speeches from no less than the Prime Minister of India? India's minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages.' You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch. @KirenRijiju You hold a constitutional post, not a throne. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity. Is it a 'benefit' to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya every single day? Is it… — Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 7, 2025 Owaisi accused the Modi government of discontinuing the Maulana Azad National Fellowship and limiting other scholarships 'because they benefited Muslim students'. The AIMIM chief also mentioned the controversial Waqf Amendment Act in a bid to debunk the senior BJP leader's claim. 'If you want to talk about 'favours', answer this: Can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? No. But your Waqf Amendment Act forces non-Muslims on to Waqf Boards—and allows them to form a majority.' Within an hour, the minister responded with a counter question: 'Ok… How come minorities from our neighbouring countries prefer to come to India & our minorities don't migrate? Prime Minister Modi's welfare schemes are for all,' Rijiju said, insisting that the 'schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs provide additional benefits to minorities'. The bitter spat between the BJP minister and the AIMIM MP, a prominent face representing Muslims, comes at a time when the latter emerged as a poster boy for the Hindu Right, after his feisty defence of India and the Modi government during Operation Sindoor. Long branded as 'BJP's B-team', the Hyderabad MP's strong attacks on Pakistan's leadership and him joining a delegation of MPs to diplomatically defend Modi government's operation abroad further expanded the impression in political circles, especially those championing Muslim demands and issues. One such party, the RJD, has recently spurned the AIMIM's offer to join forces for the Bihar polls, with party MP Manoj Kumar Jha stating that Owaisi's base is limited to Hyderabad. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Even the Right loves Asaduddin Owaisi post-Op Sindoor. Why 'secular' camp won't embrace him yet
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch": AIMIM chief Owaisi targets Kiren Rijiju over his claims of minority welfare under Union Government
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi targeted Union Minister Kiren Rijiju while replying to his 'X' post, mentioning his newspaper article related to minority welfare in India. Calling out Kiren Rijiju a 'minister' of the 'Indian republic' rather than a 'monarch', the AIMIM chief stated 'minority rights' are 'fundamental' rather than being a 'charity'. Asaduddin Owaisi asked whether is it a 'benefit' to be called 'Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya' everyday. He queried whether is 'protection' that Indian citizens are being 'kidnapped' and 'pushed' into Bangladesh. 'You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch. Kiren Rijiju you hold a constitutional post, not a throne. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity. Is it a 'benefit' to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya every single day? Is it 'protection' to be lynched? Is it protection that Indian citizens were kidnapped and pushed into Bangladesh?' Owaisi wrote on 'X'. Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking whether it is an 'honour' to be the 'target' of his 'hate speech'. The AIMIM chief mentioned that the Indian minorities are not even 'second class citizens' but have turned into 'hostages'. 'Is it a privilege to watch our homes, masjids, and mazaars being bulldozed illegally? To be made socially, politically, and economically invisible? Is it an 'honour' to be the target of hate speeches from no less than the Prime Minister of India? India's minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages', the 'X' post said. Owaisi asked Kiren Rijiju whether can 'Muslims' be inducted into 'Hindu Endowment Board' while mentioning about the Waqf Amendment Act which 'forces non-Muslims onto Waqf Boards'. The AIMIM chief alleged that the Union Government discontinued the Maulana Azad National Fellowship and 'limited' the post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships as they were 'Muslim' students. 'If you want to talk about 'favours', answer this: can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? No. But your Waqf Amendment Act forces non-Muslims onto Waqf Boards -- and allows them to form a majority. You discontinued the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. You defunded the pre-matric scholarship. You limited the post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships. All because they benefited Muslim students. Muslims are now the only group whose numbers have fallen in higher education. Their presence in the informal economy has gone up. They have been among the worst-hit by your economic policies. This is your own govt's data', he wrote on 'X'. Owaisi stated that Indian Muslims are the only group whose children are now worse off than their parents or grandparents. He mentioned that they are not asking to be compared with other minorities of other countries but demand social, economic, and political justice. 'Indian Muslims are the only group whose children are now worse off than their parents or grandparents. Intergenerational mobility has reversed. Muslim-concentrated areas are the ones most starved of public infrastructure and basic services. We are not asking to be compared with other minorities of other countries. We are not asking for more than what the majority community gets. We are demanding what the Constitution promises: social, economic, and political justice', the 'X' post said. (ANI)
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Asaduddin Owaisi, Kiren Rijiju engage in war of words on social media over minorities rights
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday engaged in a war of words on social media, with the former slamming the BJP leader over his statement that India is the only country where the minorities get more benefits and protections than the majority community, saying minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity. The Hyderabad MP, in a post on 'X', said, "You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch. @KirenRijiju You hold a constitutional post, not a throne. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity." "India's minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages," Owaisi alleged. The AIMIM chief attacked Rijiju on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, and asked can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? "No. But your Waqf Amendment Act forces non-Muslims onto Waqf Boards - and allows them to form a majority." He further said the BJP-led central government "discontinued" the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, "defunded" the pre-matric scholarship and limited the post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships. "All because they benefited Muslim students," he said. Live Events Owaisi said Muslims are now the only group whose numbers have fallen in higher education and their presence in the informal economy has gone up. "They have been among the worst-hit by your government's economic policies," he alleged. Muslim-concentrated areas are the ones most starved of public infrastructure and basic services, he claimed. "We are not asking to be compared with other minorities of other countries. We are not asking for more than what the majority community gets. We are demanding what the Constitution promises: social, economic, and political justice," Owaisi said. Replying to the AIMIM president, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Rijiju in a post on 'X' said, "Ok... How come Minorities from our neighbouring countries prefer to come to India & our Minorities don't migrate? Prime Minister @narendramodi ji's welfare schemes are for all. The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs provide additional benefits to the Minorities." Hitting back, Owaisi in a social media post said, "If we don't migrate it means we are happy. Actually, we are not in the habit of fleeing: we did not run away from the British, we did not run away during partition, and we did not run away because of Jammu, Nellie, Gujarat, Moradabad, Delhi etc massacres. Our history is proof that we neither collaborate with our oppressors nor do we hide from them. "We know how to fight for our democratic rights and we will inshallah. Stop comparing our great nation with failed states like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal & Sri Lanka. Jai Hind, Jai Samvidhan! Thank you for your attention in this matter!".
