A group of Trinamool Congress leaders, including ministers and members of Parliament, and members of several non-governmental organisations, held a meeting here on Sunday to discuss their stand on the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill.

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Sunday’s meeting, formally organised by the All India Milli Council, an NGO working on the rights of waqf properties across the country, saw ruling party representatives clarify that the state government has already submitted its official objections to the relevant authorities against the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill, which they believe to be against the interests of the minority community and its rights in the country.

“Following instructions from our chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, the chief secretary has already sent objections on the proposed amendments to the waqf laws by the BJP government. We made it clear that after playing divisive card between Hindus and Muslims, the BJP is now attempting to create divisions among various Muslim sub-castes through passing that particular bill,” said Ghulam Rabbani, minister of environment, non-conventional and renewable energy.

Rabbani was one of the main speakers at the event, held at the Haj House in Park Circus here.

Rabbani apart, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque, who is also a member of the Waqf Board and the JPC, along with the mass education and library minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury and disaster management minister Javed Khan, were among the ruling party delegates at the meeting.

The chairman of the Bengal Waqf Board, Justice Sayeedullah Munshi, and its chief executive officer, Ehsan Ali, also attended, along with representatives from various NGOs.

In August this year, the Narendra Modi government proposed an amendment to the existing Waqf Act (1995). Despite the Centre’s assertion that the amendment, titled the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2024, aims to resolve issues in waqf property management, the Opposition argued that it undermined Muslim religious rights as it proposes to hand over power to bureaucrats.

Due to growing disagreements, the Centre referred the bill to a JPC for review.

During their scheduled visit on November 12, the JPC members are expected to consult with several organisations involved in Waqf-related activities and beneficiaries of waqf properties. Waqf properties are buildings or plots designated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law.

“If the JPC permits us to submit our opinions directly, we will clarify our stance. Otherwise, we will email our questions, demands, and concerns about the bill to the JPC. We have documented all the relevant points discussed in today’s meeting,” added Rabbani, who raised at least five key points to substantiate his view on why the Centre’s move is against the interests of Muslims.

The participation of so many TMC leaders in Sunday’s meeting is significant, as the party needs to woo Muslims, who comprise over 29 per cent of Bengal’s population. The community has firmly backed Mamata Banerjee since she ascended to power in 2011.

In the November 13 bypolls to six Assembly segments, 65 per cent of the voters are from the minority community, making it important for the TMC to reach out to the Muslims voters on the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill.