Bengaluru: As opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill intensifies among Muslims across the country, similar protests erupted in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. Members of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) Chikmagalur Unit, alongside other prominent Muslim leaders, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, addressed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, urging the rejection of the controversial bill.

During the protest, APCR Chikmagalur District President, Mohammed Samiullah, described the Waqf Amendment Bill as "a bottle of poison labeled as nectar," accusing the government of attempting to deceive the public by disguising the bill as beneficial. He vehemently condemned the bill and demanded its immediate withdrawal, stating that the proposed changes threaten the very essence of Waqf properties, which are sacred to the Muslim community.

The APCR expressed grave concern over the bill, emphasizing that amendments to laws should benefit society, but in this case, the opposite is true. Waqf properties, entrusted by ancestors for the welfare of the community and as a form of religious charity, were never meant to be exploited or misused. The government must adopt a broader perspective and take concrete measures to safeguard Waqf assets.

The protest outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Chikmagalur saw participation from key leaders, including APCR Vice President Saleem Sahab, DK Haider, Ghaus Peer Munna, District President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Abdul Rauf, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Rizwan Sahab, and Mufti Samiullah, President of the Welfare Association. Speaking to reporters, these leaders unanimously rejected the Waqf Amendment Bill, demanding its outright dismissal. They warned that any government interference in Waqf properties would not be tolerated, as these assets are dedicated to community welfare and must be preserved for their intended purposes.

The leaders further voiced concerns that the government's true motive behind the bill is to seize control of Waqf properties from the Muslim community. They pledged that Muslims nationwide would continue their protests to prevent this perceived conspiracy from succeeding.

For report in Urdu, Click here