Opposition grows as the Muslim community rallies against the proposed legislation
Team Clarion
BANSWARA – An iftar feast here on Monday provided a platform for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha to voice her strong opposition to the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill.
Addressing the media after the event, Kavitha expressed her party’s firm stand against the bill, accusing the central government of attempting to seize control of Waqf properties and undermining the rights of the Muslim community.
The iftar gathering saw community members and political figures come together in a show of solidarity. Speaking to reporters, Kavitha condemned the proposed Waqf legislation, stating, “We are celebrating Ramadan with our people in Banswara. We are talking about the current situation of the central government and how it is trying to bring a bill that will take control of the Waqf properties of Muslims. As a party, BRS will oppose it, and we are with our Muslim community – we have always been with them.”
Highlighting the historical ties between the BRS and the Muslim community, particularly during the Telangana movement, Kavitha added, “We have always worked for the empowerment of the Muslim community. The community supported us during the Telangana movement. There should be peace in the entire country and Telangana. So, we will oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.”
The Waqf Bill, which is currently under scrutiny, has sparked intense debate across the country. Proponents of the bill argue that it will modernise Waqf management by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, and greater transparency, along with efforts to reclaim lands that have allegedly been wrongfully seized. However, critics, including Kavitha and several Muslim leaders, see it as an overreach by the central government that threatens the autonomy of Waqf institutions and the welfare of the Muslim community.
The BRS leader’s comments come amid growing opposition to the bill. Just a day earlier, on 23 March, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announced plans for a nationwide protest. Mohammad Waqar Uddin Latifi, the AIMPLB’s office secretary, said, “After the massive and successful protest in Delhi on March 17, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced a nationwide movement against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill.” The announcement has sparked widespread support from Muslim organisations and political allies, setting the stage for a larger confrontation with the government.
In response to the mounting criticism, the central government has referred the bill to a parliamentary committee for further examination. The committee will review the provisions of the bill, although no timeline for its findings has been set.
For many at the iftar feast, Kavitha’s remarks resonated deeply. A resident Asif Khan, who attended the event, told reporters, “We are grateful to leaders like Kavitha who stand with us. This bill is an attack on our rights, and we won’t stay silent.”
Naseema Begum, another attendee, shared her concerns, saying, “Our Waqf properties are for the welfare of our community. The government has no right to interfere.”
