PDP Chief writes to Nitish, Naidu over Waqf Amendment Bill; urges them to intervene

Srinagar, Jan 31: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has written to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to intervene against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill.

Calling it an “unconstitutional, unconscionable, and authoritarian bill,” Mufti alleged that it seeks to dilute the autonomy of the Waqf Act and snatch Muslim religious properties.

Mufti also took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her concerns, stating, “The proposed Waqf amendment bill not only violates the religious & constitutional rights of Muslims but also seeks to snatch these properties by diluting the autonomy of the Waqf Act. Urging Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu to halt this onslaught & assault on the very idea of India.”

In her letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, Mufti stated that the proposed Waqf amendment bill comes at a time when, for the past decade, Muslims have been systematically disenfranchised, disempowered, and marginalised politically, socially, and economically.

“Perhaps what’s most concerning is the utter disregard to the misgivings raised by the opposition parties in the form of dissent notes submitted to the joint parliamentary committee. The exercise of consultation seems farcical without any genuine efforts to consult the community most affected by this unconstitutional, unconscionable, and authoritarian bill,” Mufti mentioned in the letter.

She stated in the letter that dressed as a reform of Waqf-owned properties across the country its true objective is to undermine the very foundation of the Waqf Act: to protect and preserve properties dedicated to the social and economic upliftment of Muslims for religious and charitable purposes.

“Each proposed amendment not only contradicts the interests of the Muslim community but also constitutes a direct assault on the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” she said in the letter.

She mentioned that this deeply divisive bill was a clear manifestation of the majoritarianism that has fuelled bigotry and the marginalization of Muslims since 2014. It strikes at the heart of the very idea of India an India that thrives on its core values of diversity, pluralism, and peaceful coexistence.

“The essence of Gandhi’s vision for India is being altered, undermining the secular fabric that binds this nation together,” she said in the letter.

In her letter to the two chief ministers, Mufti wrote, “You have always been a staunch believer in our Constitution and have consistently championed the spirit of the Ganga-Jamuni brotherhood. Today, as key members of the NDA, you are uniquely positioned to influence this matter and halt this onslaught.”—(KNO)