Mehbooba urges Modi allies to block authoritarian Waqf Amendment Bill
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to oppose the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it “unconstitutional, unconscionable, and authoritarian.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a strongly worded letter, Mufti appealed to the two key NDA allies to leverage their influence to block the bill, warning that its passage could jeopardize India’s communal harmony and unity. “As key members of the NDA, you are uniquely positioned to prevent this onslaught against minorities,” she wrote.
Mufti expressed alarm over the bill’s intent, stating that it undermines the core purpose of the Waqf Act, which safeguards properties dedicated to religious and charitable causes for the Muslim community. “The bill comes at a time when Muslims have been systematically disenfranchised, disempowered, and marginalized politically, socially, and economically over the past decade,” she emphasized.
She said the Modi government has reduced the parliamentary consultation process to a sham, disregarding opposition concerns and failing to engage meaningfully with affected communities.
“This is not just about Waqf properties; it’s a direct assault on the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The bill reflects the majoritarianism that has fueled bigotry and marginalized Muslims since 2014,” Mufti warned.
The proposed Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked widespread debate, with Indian opposition parties and minority groups condemning it as another attempt by the BJP-led government to erode the rights of India’s Muslim community.
