Muslims taking part in the protection of Waqf conference organised by SDPI in Hubballi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE

State president of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Abdul Majeed has said that the responsibility of defeating the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is on every political party.

Addressing a gathering at Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf (protection of Waqf) conference at Heggeri in Hubballi on Tuesday, Mr. Majeed termed the Bill unconstitutional and anti-Muslim and said that every political party should make efforts to defeat it. A discussion on the Bill is scheduled after March 10.

Mr. Majeed said that being an election year, both Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should ensure that the Bill is defeated. Otherwise, Muslims in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar will ensure their defeat, he said.

Members of the National Working Committee of SDPI Sayeda Sadia referred to the Shaheen Bagh agitation and said that the whole world saw the agitation which turned into a sort of revolution. “If the Bill is not defeated, then we will create Shaheen Bagh in every village,” she claimed.

SDPI vice-president Abdul Hannan expressed regret over Waqf property not being surveyed properly despite secular parties being in power in the State for the last seven decades. What is a matter of concern is that even the Muslim community has not given a serious thought to it.

At least now the community and secular intellectuals should launch a united fight to defeat fascist forces, he said.

State general secretary of SDPI B.R. Bhaskar Prasad said that Waqf is nothing but donation meant for the welfare of the poor and distressed. Trying to grab such Waqf land or property donated in the name of Allah is highly condemnable, he said.

State general secretary Afsar Kodlipet termed the Bill an attack aimed at the religious and cultural identity of Muslims.

A host of office-bearers of SDPI from different districts and hundreds of people from the community took part in the conference.