Congress Backs AIMPLB’s Waqf Agitation: Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, May 18: Telangana Government Advisor , Mohammed Ali Shabbir, on Sunday assured full support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in its ongoing agitation against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Addressing a round table conference titled “Save Waqf, Save Constitution Movement” in Hyderabad, Shabbir Ali said the Congress party would back all legal and democratic efforts to safeguard Waqf properties and uphold constitutional values.

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Organised by the AIMPLB, the event was attended by several prominent Islamic scholars, legal experts and activists. Shabbir Ali stated that the entire Congress leadership stood with the Board and called the recent amendments to the Waqf Act “a direct assault not just on the Muslim community but on the Constitution itself.”

“The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is not alone in this fight. The Congress party is fully with you. We support all your moves, be they legal battles, public awareness campaigns, or protests,” he declared.

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He recalled that Telangana was the first state in the country to officially oppose the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, with a government-level meeting convened on August 19, 2024. “Under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the Telangana Congress government stood with the Muslim community from the very beginning,” he said.

Shabbir Ali informed the participants that the party was actively pursuing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court and expressed hope that a stay on the new Act would be secured. “This is a battle for justice. This is about protecting constitutional guarantees for minorities,” he added.

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Referring to the parliamentary journey of the Act, Shabbir Ali pointed out that in the Lok Sabha, the Bill was passed with 288 MPs voting in favour and 232 against, with Congress members participating in the vote till as late as 3 a.m. In the Rajya Sabha, 128 members supported the Bill while 95 voted against. “The fact that nearly half the Parliament opposed this Bill proves it does not have national consensus. Every party’s support should be taken before enacting such a sensitive law,” he said.

Calling for robust public mobilisation, he suggested the formation of coordination committees at the lowest levels to ensure the success of all agitation programmes led by AIMPLB. He also urged the Board to meet TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud and share their programme details, assuring that local Congress leaders would be involved in every step of the movement.

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The Waqf (Amendment) Act has faced widespread criticism for allegedly allowing state interference in the functioning of Waqf Boards, and for provisions enabling non-Muslim members to be appointed. Opponents say the move weakens minority rights and threatens the autonomy of religious institutions.

Shabbir Ali concluded his address by saying, “This fight is not just for Muslims. It is for India’s soul, for its pluralism, and for its constitutional values.” (Maxim News)

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