"You only want to misbehave": Delhi State Haj Committee chief on AIMPLB's Waqf Bill protest

New Delhi [India], March 17 : The Chairperson of Delhi State Haj Committee, Kausar Jahan, on Monday raised questions over the protest staged by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 at Jantar Mantar here.
Jahan argued that all the members of important parties, including MP Asaduddin Owaisi, are part of the Joint Parliamentary Committe (JPC) and said objections could also be raised during a debate on the Bill in the Parliament. She also sought to know whether the AIMPLB, without naming them, has read through the bill.
"First of all, I can't understand what is the meaning of this protest? All important parties have been given a place and included in the JPC. Owaisi sahab of AIMIM is also included. Everyone's suggestions have been taken in. Secondly, if you have to say anything, there is Parliament for that - have a debate in Parliament. Those who are protesting, I would like to ask them whether they have actually studied (the Bill). You are neither ready to read it nor do you want to debate. You only want to misbehave. This will arbitrariness will not work," Jahan told ANI.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi also joined the protest.
Owaisi said that their job is to protest because the law is unconstitutional. He added that the law will not save the Waqf property but there are provisions in it which will snatch away the graveyards, Khanqahs and the Dargahs from Muslims.
The AIMIM chief also emphasised that if Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan and Nitish Kumar will support the act then the people will remember them.
"Our job is to protest because it is unconstitutional. This bill is not for saving Waqf property, not for removing encroachers but for ending Waqf property, for snatching away graveyards, Khanqah, Dargah from Muslims. Their intentions are bad and they want to increase distances in the country. We are saying that we will protest, if Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, Nitish Kumar support it then the public will remember them for life," he said to the reporters on Monday.
Asaduddin Owaisi was also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee set up to amend the Waqf Amendment Act led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.
AIMPLB began their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and it was led by member Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas. He stated that it is a peaceful protest and the administration should cooperate with them in it. He said that the government should not be afraid and listen to the voice of its people.
"People were coming from many districts of UP and Haryana but now we have received information that their buses are being stopped. We believe that this is a very peaceful protest and the administration should support us in this. The government need not be afraid and they should listen to the voice of the people. If there is such a cowardly government that cannot listen to the voice of its people then it has no right to rule," Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said while addressing the gathering.