KEY POINTS
- Waqf Reform Bill faces protests despite Parliament’s approval
- Mamata Banerjee opposes implementation in Bengal
- RSS launches campaign to clear myths and inform Muslims
After receiving approval from both Houses of Parliament, the Waqf Reform Bill has officially come into effect. During parliamentary discussions, the central government addressed objections raised by opposition parties, but despite these clarifications, dissatisfaction remains. The bill has triggered protests across several parts of the country. In West Bengal, the agitation turned violent, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declaring that the bill will not be implemented in the state.
In response to the growing opposition, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has now taken an active role in supporting the bill. The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an affiliate organization of the RSS, will launch a public awareness campaign about the Waqf Reform Bill. This was confirmed by Virag Pachpor, the All-India Convener of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, during a conversation with ‘NDTV Marathi’.
According to Pachpor, the campaign aims to clarify that the new law will not harm the Muslim community in any way. Their mosques, buildings, and graveyards will remain unaffected. He alleged that certain extremist groups are deliberately spreading misinformation and provoking the sentiments of the Muslim community. Through this campaign, the organization will explain, using facts, how the Waqf Reform Bill actually benefits ordinary Muslims.
Pachpor also raised concerns about the vast Waqf properties across the country and how they have been mismanaged over the years. Despite the existence of significant Waqf assets, the benefits have not reached the common members of the Muslim community. This issue, he said, will be central to the awareness drive.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch plans to hold public meetings and discussions in every city across the country, especially in areas with a significant Muslim population. Even in West Bengal- where the protests were most violent- the campaign will be conducted on the same scale as in other parts of the country.
This outreach effort is being seen as a significant step by the RSS in directly addressing opposition to the bill and countering misinformation within the Muslim community.
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