The BJP, a political party in India, is starting a two-week campaign to inform people, especially Muslims, about the Waqf (Amendment) Act. This campaign will run from April 20. BJP President JP Nadda and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will talk to party members about the benefits of the law. Many party leaders from across the country attended a workshop where they were told that the opposition parties are misleading Muslims about this law for votes.
Nadda mentioned that the government wants to help “pasmanda” (backward) Muslims and women by giving them a say in how Waqf properties are managed. He believes that the new law, which started on April 8, will allow Waqf properties to be used to help poor Muslims and women. This way, these properties will be managed more openly and fairly, rather than by a select few people.
The BJP leaders said that the new law does not take away Muslims’ rights to manage their religious matters. They explained that having non-Muslims on the Waqf Council and boards is just about managing properties, not about religion. The party plans to hold press meetings and discussions with Muslim community members. They have also prepared answers to common questions (in Urdu, too) to tackle criticisms of the law from some Muslim groups and opposition parties, who claim it is unconstitutional and takes away Muslim rights.
Key BJP leaders, including Radha Mohan Das Agrawal and Jamal Siddiqui, will lead this campaign, which will go on until May 5. Meanwhile, some Muslim organizations and opposition leaders have gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the law’s constitutionality, and the court will hear the case on April 16.
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