TDP Vice President Nawab Jan urges everyone to come together to stop the Waqf (Amendment) Bill from being passed in Parliament
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Amid strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill from several Muslim organisations and several non-BJP parties, a senior leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituent, has said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will not let the implementation of any bill that harms the interests of the Muslims.
Addressing the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Sammelan’ organised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind here on Sunday, TDP Vice President Nawab Jan urged everyone to come together to stop the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 from being passed in Parliament.
Chandrababu Naidu has always said he has two eyes — one Hindu and one Muslim, Jan, also known as Ameer Babu, said.
“He (Naidu) says any harm done to one eye affects the whole body and we must keep this in mind as we move forward on the path of development,” Jan said.
“Chandrababu is a person of a secular mindset — such a person is our chief minister, (he) will not let a bill that harms Muslims be implemented,” he said.
Jan’s remarks have sparked speculation regarding Naidu’s stance on the Waqf Bill and whether he will participate in the Jamiat gathering in Andhra Pradesh on December 15.
The controversy surrounding the bill coincides with heightened scrutiny over the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam Board, with Naidu recently advocating for representation from all religions on the board. His comments come as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has labelled the Waqf Amendment Bill as “very dangerous,” warning that it threatens the safety of mosques, graveyards, and madrassas.
Introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier this year by Kiran Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, the Waqf Bill has faced staunch opposition from various political parties, including the Congress. In response to the controversy, a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has been formed to review the bill, consisting of 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members.
Jagdambika Pal noted that the JPC has received over nine million proposals regarding the bill, but a resolution remains elusive as discussions continue. With the winter session of Parliament set to commence this month, the government is expected to proceed with introducing the bill, which could further intensify the ongoing debate about minority rights and religious freedoms in India.
