Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 31: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has reached out to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to resist the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill.
In a letter shared on her social media handle, Mufti voiced strong opposition to the bill, describing it as “unconstitutional, unconscionable, and authoritarian.”
She contended that the amendments undermine the fundamental objective of the Waqf Act, which is to safeguard properties meant for religious and charitable purposes within the Muslim community.
“The bill comes at a time when, for the past decade, Muslims have been systematically disenfranchised, disempowered, and marginalized politically, socially, and economically,” Mehbooba wrote, emphasizing the broader implications of the proposed changes.
Criticizing the Government’s handling of the legislative process, she accused it of sidelining opposition voices and dismissed the parliamentary consultation as a “farce” that lacked genuine engagement with the affected community.
She further cautioned that the bill amounts to “a direct assault on the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by our Constitution” and reflects “majoritarianism that has fueled bigotry and the marginalization of Muslims since 2014.”
Highlighting Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of an inclusive nation, PDP president warned that the proposed legislation “threatens the secular fabric of the nation.”
Addressing Kumar and Naidu-both influential allies within the NDA-she urged them to leverage their positions to block the bill, warning that its passage could “harm national unity and communal harmony.”