Muslims Urged to Don Black Armbands in Nationwide Protest Against Waqf Bill
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called on Muslims across India to wear black armbands on their right hands during Juma prayers on the final Friday of Ramzan, known as Juma Tul Wida, as a symbolic gesture of opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The appeal was made by AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi in a video message shared on the organization’s X account.
Mujaddidi encouraged the community to visibly mark their dissent by wearing the armbands and to record and submit videos of the protest to the AIMPLB’s online desk. “The AIMPLB’s resistance to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill remains steadfast,” he stated, framing the action as part of an ongoing campaign against the legislation.
The call to action follows the AIMPLB’s announcement on Sunday of a broader nationwide movement against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The first phase of protests includes major sit-ins planned outside state assemblies, with demonstrations scheduled in Patna on March 26 and Vijayawada on March 29. On Wednesday, Bihar saw significant unrest as protests spilled from the state legislature to the streets. The AIMPLB organized a large-scale ‘maha dharna’ in Patna, held less than a kilometer from the Vidhan Sabha, drawing support from political parties both within and beyond the state. The demonstrations demanded the withdrawal of the bill, introduced by the Narendra Modi-led central government, and urged “secular” leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, to rethink their stance on the legislation.
The AIMPLB’s 31-member Action Committee has vowed to employ all constitutional, legal, and democratic avenues to challenge what it calls a “controversial, discriminatory, and damaging” bill. The organization has also planned rallies in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Malerkotla (Punjab), and Ranchi to amplify its message.
The protests coincide with recent developments in Parliament, where a joint committee submitted its 655-page report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30. The report, adopted by a 15-11 vote led by ruling BJP members, proposed several amendments to the bill. However, opposition members rejected the findings, submitting dissent notes and accusing the government of attempting to undermine Waqf boards. Introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on August 8 last year, the bill was referred to the joint committee amid heated debate in the Lok Sabha. While it has yet to be scheduled for a vote, speculation persists that it could come up during the current Budget Session.
(INPUT BY PTI )