Hyderabad: Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee (JAC) Convener and Tahreek Muslim Shabban President Mohammed Mushtaq Mallik on Saturday called upon the Muslim community to wage a united and determined fight against the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, urging every political party, organisation, and community group to extend their support to the movement.
Speaking at the “Telangana March” held at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, Mallik delivered a stirring presidential address, cautioning that the BJP-led government at the Centre was determined to undermine Muslim institutions and constitutional safeguards. He described the Waqf Amendment Act as the most serious threat to the community’s religious and cultural heritage in recent history.
Mallik warned that the Act was already being implemented in several BJP-ruled states despite an interim stay granted by the Supreme Court. “We are seeing systematic demolitions of mosques, dargahs, and other Waqf properties in complete violation of the court’s orders,” he said. “If the Act is allowed to continue unchecked, these encroachments will spread across the country and our centuries-old heritage will be lost.”
He underscored that the Act poses an even greater threat than the fears once expressed over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). “While CAA and NRC threatened citizenship and identity, the Waqf Amendment Act strikes at the very foundation of our community’s religious endowments and places of worship,” he said. “It opens the doors for state interference, allows non-Muslim appointments to Waqf Boards, and strips away the autonomy that has safeguarded our community’s heritage for generations.”
Highlighting the importance of an inclusive approach, Mallik stressed that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) should act independently and not fall into the lap of any political party while spearheading the movement against the Act. “Only an independent and credible platform can effectively challenge the draconian legislation and ensure that our rights are protected,” he said.
Mallik praised the presence of leaders from various political parties and organisations who joined the protest, saying their participation proved that the fight against the Waqf Amendment Act was not confined to any single party or ideology. “It is a fight for justice, for the constitutional rights of minorities, and for the secular fabric of our country,” he said. He reminded the gathering that every effort must be made to build unity across party lines to achieve the goal of getting the Act repealed.
The march was attended by a large number of leaders cutting across political affiliations and community groups. Prominent among them were former PCC President V Hanumatha Rao, former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, MBT President Majeedullah Khan Farhat, BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail, former MP Aziz Pasha, Telangana Jana Samithi President and MLC Prof Kodandaram, Waqf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini, TMREIS President Faheem Qureshi, Haj Committee Chairman Khusro Pasha Biyabani, and Congress leader Osman Mohammed Khan. Several other eminent religious leaders and representatives also participated in the protest, demonstrating a united front against the Centre’s move.
The protest concluded with a pledge to continue the agitation until the controversial legislation is withdrawn by the central government.
