Shabbir Ali Vows Long Battle Against Waqf Amendment Act

HYDERABAD, May 31(Same Day): Senior Congress leader and Advisor to the Telangana Government, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, on Saturday declared that the struggle against the Waqf Amendment Act will be a sustained and determined one, terming it a direct violation of the constitutional rights of minorities and an affront to India's secular fabric. Addressing the Telangana March organised by the Telangana Muslim Joint Action Committee at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, Mr. Shabbir Ali urged Muslims and secular forces across the country to brace themselves for a prolonged democratic fight. Accusing the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining constitutional principles since 2014, Mr. Ali pointed to a series of controversial measures including the Hijab restrictions, criminalisation of Triple Talaq, enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and now, the amendments to Waqf property governance. “This is not only about Muslims. It is about India’s very soul—its secular and pluralistic ethos,” he said.

    Recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mr. Ali expressed anguish over the increasing targeting of Muslim identity. “Hatred has reached a point where even Muslim names are viewed with suspicion,” he remarked. He also criticised political leaders such as N. Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar for supporting the Bill, accusing them of abandoning secular values. “They speak of secularism but act as pseudo-seculars when it comes to real issues,” he said.

Congress Firm in Opposition

Mr. Shabbir Ali underlined the Congress party’s unequivocal opposition to the Bill, both in Parliament and on public platforms. “Despite their age, Congress supreme leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge stood against this Bill. We must recognize and appreciate the commitment shown by those who opposed this legislation,” he stated.

Detailing the parliamentary proceedings, he noted that while the Bill passed in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favour and 232 against, in the Rajya Sabha, it received 128 votes in support and 95 in opposition. “These numbers reflect the lack of national consensus. A law impacting religious institutions should not have been passed without broad-based consultation,” he said.

The amended Act, which has drawn sharp criticism, is seen as enabling increased state interference in Waqf Boards and permitting the appointment of non-Muslims to roles traditionally held by members of the Muslim community. Mr. Ali confirmed that the Congress supports ongoing legal challenges in the Supreme Court and expressed hope for a stay on the legislation.

Telangana’s Early Opposition

He noted that Telangana was the first state to take an official stand against the amendments, with a high-level government meeting held on August 19, 2024. “Under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the Congress government of Telangana has consistently supported the Muslim community,” he said. Mr. Shabbir Ali also reflected on the political context of the Act’s passage, linking it to the weakening of the Congress party in recent years. “When the Congress weakened, communal forces gained strength. A Congress revival is necessary to repeal such laws and uphold minority rights,” he asserted. The protest was attended by several prominent leaders including Muslim JAC President Mushtaq Mallik, former PCC President V. Hanumantha Rao, Senior leader Feroz Khan, Telangana Jana Samithi President and MLC Prof. M. Kodandaram, former MP Aziz Pasha, and other religious and civil society figures.