Sun Nov 24 22:10:00 UTC 2024: **Andhra Pradesh Leaders Urged to Oppose Waqf Amendment Bill**
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – November 25, 2024 – The Secular Constitution Protection Forum (SCPF) has called on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) to oppose the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. A meeting held on Sunday saw strong condemnation of the bill from various political leaders and religious figures.
Speakers at the meeting, including representatives from the CPI and CPI(M), criticized the bill as a threat to democracy and a tool to divide voters along religious lines. They highlighted the perceived hypocrisy of the government’s stance on religious institutions, citing the simultaneous assertion of Hindu exclusivity in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams while advocating for Hindu representation in Waqf Boards. Concerns were also raised about the government’s haste in passing the bill before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report has even been considered.
Former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao emphasized the need to consider state opinions, given the Waqf Board falls under the Concurrent List. He also questioned the Election Commission’s inaction against provocative statements regarding Muslim reservations. Criticism was also leveled at the JSP president, Pawan Kalyan, for his apparent shift in stance on religious tolerance.
Representatives from various Muslim organizations also participated in the protest, voicing their concerns about the implications of the bill. The SCPF’s call for opposition underscores the growing unease surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill and its potential impact on religious harmony and democratic processes in Andhra Pradesh.
First Piper 