Kodagu District Sunni Coordination Committee recently held a protest in Madikeri, against the Central Government’s Waqf Amendment act.
Under the leadership of Kodagu District Qazi Abdullah Faizi and District Jamaat Ulema President Syed Shihabuddin Haidrosi, a protest march was held from the F.M..K.M. Cariappa Circle to Gandhi Maidan under the guidance of the District Sunni Coordination Committee. On the occasion, the protesters expressed strong opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill.
A large number of protesters who participated in the protest without any party affiliation demanded that the Waqf Amendment Act should not be implemented for any reason.
Addressing a gathering at Gandhi Maidan, Kodagu District Qazi Abdullah Faizi said that if the Central Government’s Waqf Amendment Act is implemented, it will hurt Muslim religious sentiments. It will also hinder the protection of property given to Waqf in the name of God.
Speaking on the occasion, Former MLA from Vittal constituency K.M. Ibrahim Master said that an organized struggle is necessary against the Central Waqf Amendment Act.
Sunni Coordination Committee Media Coordinator C.M. Hamid Moulavi said that there are about 6 lakh acres of property under Waqf across the state. All these properties are land donated in the name of God. Mosques and madrasas have acquired such land. There is a risk of losing the right to such property through the Central Waqf Amendment Act. In this context, we all should unitiedly oppose the implementation of the act.
SDPI District President Amin Mohisin said that, “We all need to be determined and fight harder to prevent the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Act. Even though the crisis is facing us, our community is still not aware . Others should realise the seriousness of the issue and wake up,” he called.
KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman, who participated in the protest meeting, said that there are about 6.50 lakh acres of land belonging to Waqf in Karnataka state and 38 lakh acres across the country. He alleged that the Central government is moving towards implementing the Waqf Amendment Bill in an attempt to make these property unavailable to Waqf.
Speaking further he said that the, neighboring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already said that they will not implement the Central Waqf Amendment Act. Similarly, the Chief Minister of Karnataka will also protect the interests of minorities.
The leaders of the Kodagu District Sunni Coordination Committee submitted a petition to the President through Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, who arrived at the protest site at Gandhi Maidan, Madikeri.
The Central Waqf Amendment Act is unconstitutional and discriminatory. In this context, the President should intervene and review the Central Waqf Amendment Act and hold detailed discussions with Muslim legal scholars and community representatives.
The Waqf Amendment Act has violated the fundamental rights of the Constitution. Waqf property is mainly reserved for the welfare and development programs of the poor of the community. The amendment act will hinder this and allowing non-Muslims in the administration of Waqf is a direct interference in the religious activities of the Waqf.
Waqf is not just an administrative matter. It is a sacred sentiment of the Muslim community. The petition expresses concern that the Waqf Amendment Act will harm such sentiments.
Many prominent Muslim community leaders , including District Ulema President Killur Thanhal, Sunni Coordination Committee Vice Presidents K.A. Yakub and P.M. Latif, Treasurer Mohammed Haji Kunjila, Secretary Umar Faizi, District Waqf Board Former President M.B. Hameed, P.A. Yusuf Haji Emmemadu, participated in the protest.
