Waqf Bill protest meeting sees Adeeb claiming Muslims’ rejection of Jinnah’s policy during Partition
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A public meeting in Delhi against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 has become the centre of controversy following comments made by former Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb. Addressing the gathering, Adeeb highlighted the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent and the role of Muslims in shaping the boundaries of Pakistan.
In his speech, Adeeb claimed, “It is the favour of Muslims that they refused Jinnah, due to which the border of Pakistan remained till Lahore, otherwise it would have been till Lucknow.” He added: “We believe that those who went to Pakistan became Mohajir, but we had shared our blood, we had refused and rejected Jinnah.”
Adeeb, who has been active in politics for over five decades, expressed his frustration with the current state of Muslims in India, stating, “Today we are living like criminals in our area. Now we have even become traitors, we have seen such people who were with us and then left us. We were blamed for those who went to Pakistan.”
The former MP further emphasised the significance of Muslims who chose to stay in India during Partition. “We did not believe in Liaquat Ali Khan, we believed in Nehru, Gandhi, and Azad,” he said.
The statement has sparked heated discussions, with some praising Adeeb’s words as a reflection of the loyalty and sacrifices made by Indian Muslims, while others have criticised them as controversial and divisive. The remarks also bring to the forefront the ongoing debate surrounding the legacy of Partition and the place of Muslims in contemporary Indian politics.
The Waqf Amendment Bill itself remains a point of contention, with many Muslim leaders arguing that it undermines the autonomy of Waqf boards and the interests of the community.
As the debate continues, Mohammad Adeeb’s comments have added another layer of complexity to the political discourse, particularly in the context of Muslim identity and its historical relationship with the Indian state.
