In a joint communique, the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Personal Board and Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) have appealed to the Members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee in New Delhi to reject the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, deeming it “anti-Muslim” and a threat to the autonomy and integrity of Waqf institutions.
The letter, signed by representatives of both organizations, highlights the unanimous resolution passed during a conference of scholars from all schools of thought within the Muslim community, presided over by Grand Mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam.
The Muslim leaders as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust argued that the bill interferes with the management of Waqf properties without consulting the Muslim community or its religious leaders, undermining the rights and traditions upheld by generations.
They perceive the bill as discriminatory, causing widespread concern among scholars, community leaders, and the Muslim population of Jammu Kashmir.
The communique urged the Joint Parliamentary Committee to reconsider and reject the bill, ensuring that Waqf properties continue to be governed in a manner reflecting the faith, values, and religious obligations of the Muslim community.
They also requested future legislative efforts be made in consultation with appropriate religious authorities and community representatives.
Both organizations believed that the Joint Parliamentary Committee would take their concerns seriously and act to uphold the rights and interests of the Muslim community. [KNT]