Srinagar, Jan 31: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti
has written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam
Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to oppose the
proposed Waqf amendment bill, warning that its passage could damage
national unity and communal harmony.
In her letter, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister denounced
the bill as “unconstitutional, unconscionable, and authoritarian,”
asserting that it directly undermines the fundamental purpose of the
Waqf Act—protecting properties dedicated to religious and charitable
causes for the Muslim community.
“The bill comes at a time when, for the past decade, Muslims have been
systematically disenfranchised, disempowered, and marginalized
politically, socially, and economically,” Mufti stated, accusing the
government of pushing the legislation without genuine consultation.
She slammed the parliamentary process as a “farce,” alleging that
opposition concerns have been ignored. The bill, she warned,
represents “a direct assault on the fundamental rights guaranteed by
our Constitution” and reflects a majoritarian approach that has
deepened communal divisions since 2014.
Mufti invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of an inclusive India,
cautioning that the bill threatens the country’s secular fabric.
Calling on Kumar and Naidu—both key allies in the NDA government—she
urged them to leverage their influence to halt the bill.
“You have always been staunch believers in our Constitution and have
consistently championed the spirit of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite
culture). Today, as key members of the NDA, you are uniquely
positioned to influence this matter and prevent this onslaught,” she
wrote.
The proposed Waqf amendment bill has sparked widespread debate, with
opposition parties and minority organizations voicing strong
objections, seeing it as yet another move to erode the rights of the
Muslim community.
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