“The way the ruling party, its allies and the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) have completely ignored the stance and opinions of Indian Muslims, views of opposition members within the JPC and have unilaterally pushed their arbitrary undemocratic process is highly condemnable,” the AIMPLB said.”We believe that the government still has an opportunity to not bring this bill, which poses a direct threat to Waqf properties and aims to deprive Muslims of their mosques, eidgahs, madrasas, dargahs and graveyards etc.,” it said.The government must act responsibly and uphold its stated commitment of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’, the Muslim body said.”Muslims across India, including scholars from various sects, religious and community organisations, prominent madrassas and intellectuals have collectively opposed this bill. Crores of Muslims have submitted their objections via email, presenting well-reasoned arguments. In matters of this nature, the opinions of the affected stakeholders hold paramount importance, as this is a fundamental democratic principle. However, these voices have been completely ignored,” it alleged.”We urge all opposition parties and even the ruling BJP’s allies to ensure that this bill is not passed in Parliament,” the AIMPLB said. The Muslim body also said it will not accept the bill even if it is passed and will pursue all “peaceful, legal and democratic” options.The report of the joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30. The panel had adopted by a majority vote its report that contained changes suggested by members of the ruling BJP, prompting the opposition to dub the exercise an attempt to destroy Waqf boards.The AIMPLB also hit out at the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand.”Another alarming move by the ruling party is the Uttarakhand government’s enforcement of the UCC. Following this, the Gujarat government has also formed a committee to draft UCC in its state. We categorically state that no state has the authority to enforce UCC on its own,” it said.”We strongly oppose the Uttarakhand government’s imposition of this flawed, unnecessary and religiously biased law, which is nothing more than an anti-Muslim and replication of Western cultures,” it said.The AIMPLB said it will challenge this so-called UCC in court and launch a united movement against it with all religious communities.”We call upon the Muslims of Uttarakhand to remain steadfast in adhering to Shariat and to uphold their faith with patience,” the statement said.
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