"This is a political protest": Jagdambika Pal rips apart AIMPLB over Waqf Bill protest

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): BJP MP Jagdambika Pal attacked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Pal is the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Waqf Bill.
The BJP MP stated that the protest is just for politics and the act has not even been introduced. He added that a report has only been submitted and the amendment bill has only been brought.The protestors should say anything once the act is passed.
Pal also questioned the grounds on which the AIMPLB, AIMIM, and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind have gathered to protest at the Jantar Mantar.
"This is a political protest. The act has not even been introduced yet. We have only submitted our 428-page report... The amendment bill has been brought. They should say anything after the bill is passed... On what basis are AIMPLB, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, AIMIM or the Opposition leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar?...", Jagdambika Pal said to ANI on Monday.
Furthermore, Jagdambika Pal stated that the DM will not have any powers in the act and officials above him would only see the matter if any conflict arises. He said that the people in the Waqf themselves want to sell their lands and the act will benefit the poor.
"The DM is not going to be given the rights... If there would be any dispute surrounding Waqf property, then any official above the DM, like the state secretary or commissioner would see to it... The act is being improved... They are misguiding the nation... Nobody is going to take away the Waqf lands. If someone is selling away Waqf land, then it is people in the Waqf themselves... The amendment will prohibit the selling of Waqf land and will benefit the poor...", he said.
Earlier, the AIMPLB began their protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and it was led by member Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas. He stated that it is a peaceful protest and the administration should cooperate with them in it. He said that the government should not be afraid and listen to the voice of its people.
"People were coming from many districts of UP and Haryana but now we have received information that their buses are being stopped. We believe that this is a very peaceful protest and the administration should support us in this. The government need not be afraid and they should listen to the voice of the people. If there is such a cowardly government that cannot listen to the voice of its people then it has no right to rule", Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said while addressing the gathering.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi joined the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Owaisi who was part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf bill has alleged that the ruling party's amendments in the JPC repor will lead to dissolution of the Waqf Board. (ANI)