Raza Academy threatens to take to the streets over the Waqf Amendment Bill

Mumbai – “We do not accept the Waqf Bill. If the situation demands, we will take to the streets and also approach the Supreme Court,” declared Raza Academy (a Sunni Muslim Islamist organisation in India), openly venting its discontent. “99% of Muslims are dissatisfied with this Bill,” the organisation claimed, expressing strong outrage over the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. Following the Bill’s approval, Raza Academy convened a meeting on 3 April in Mumbai, which was attended by several Maulvis (Islamic clerics) and activists from the Muslim community. All attendees vehemently opposed the Bill. (Grabbing land belonging to other communities and registering it under Waqf Board’s name in the name of ‘Land Jihad’ is the sole-point agenda pursued by fanatic Muslims. This Bill seeks to curb that practice. That is precisely why these fanatic elements are writhing in protest ! – Editor)

Maulvi Khalidi Rahman Noor stated, “Those celebrating the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill are dancing to the tunes of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. They are like obedient dogs. This is our religious issue.” (If it is indeed a religious issue, then let it remain restricted to your community. What does the Waqf Board aim to achieve by encroaching upon land belonging to others ? Dragging the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh into this without any context is laughable ! – Editor) “We are prepared to make any qurbani (sacrifice). We will not accept this Bill. We will protest as much as necessary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are liars.” (Maulvi Khalidi Rahman Noor seems to be the very embodiment of the idiom ‘a thief shouting thief’ ! – Editor) “Leaders of the BJP are the biggest perpetrators of atrocities against girls.” (Has Maulvi Khalidi Rahman Noor ever spoken about the fanatic elements abducting Hindu girls through ‘Love Jihad’ and forcing them to convert to Islam ? – Editor) “Whatever they say is false. If they were truly working for our welfare, they would have taken us into confidence, engaged in dialogue with us. The BJP does not work for Muslims, but only for itself and its allies.”

Mohammad Saeed Noori said, “The Government says one thing and does another. We have no faith in this Bill—not even 1%. Waqf properties will now be usurped. Muslim wealth will no longer be secure. Given the past, we do not trust this Government. In today’s meeting, we discussed all legal options. We will protect our properties.”

Editorial Perspective

Despite 14 years having passed since the riots at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on 11 August 2012, neither Raza Academy nor the accused involved have been punished yet. The Government must not ignore this fresh threat by Raza Academy; it must act firmly to prevent any recurrence of riots. Had strict action been taken earlier against Raza Academy in the Azad Maidan riots case, this organisation would not have dared to adopt such an aggressive stance again.