Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 20: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has strongly condemned the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) warning regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, cautioning that such rhetoric could lead to unrest akin to historical tragedies.
The AIMPLB had recently stated that the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament could result in nationwide protests resembling the Shaheen Bagh movement. Responding to this, Nirupam warned that provoking tensions over the issue could escalate into a situation comparable to Jallianwala Bagh, referring to the infamous 1919 massacre.
Speaking to IANS, Nirupam clarified that the amendments to the Waqf Board were introduced to ensure transparency and accountability and were not aimed at harming the Muslim community.
Nirupam criticized the current functioning of the Waqf Board, which oversees more than 8 lakh acres of land across India. He claimed that the Board has long operated without adequate scrutiny and that the amendments aim to rectify these irregularities.
"The Waqf Board has functioned like a private entity, with land dealings taking place unchecked. The proposed changes are in the interest of common Muslims, but some religious leaders oppose them because they benefit from this lack of oversight," he stated.
He urged those opposing the amendments to seek legal recourse rather than instigating political unrest.
"If certain groups are threatening another Shaheen Bagh-style agitation, they should also remember that such actions could lead to consequences as severe as Jallianwala Bagh," he warned.
Nirupam also weighed in on the ongoing debate over India's Three-Language Formula, originally introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru. He argued that the system respects regional languages while promoting Hindi as a national language and English as a modern communication tool.
He accused Tamil Nadu politicians, particularly from the DMK, of unnecessarily politicizing the issue.
"In Maharashtra, Marathi coexists with Hindi and English under this formula without any controversy. Tamil Nadu should adopt the same approach instead of resisting for political reasons," he said.
Nirupam also addressed the controversy at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where authorities reportedly prohibited students from celebrating Holi on campus.
"Stopping students from celebrating Holi is unjustified. If Holi isn’t celebrated in India, where will it be celebrated? Pakistan?" he questioned.
He emphasized that just as Muslim students observe Ramzan on campus, others should be allowed to celebrate their festivals freely.
"India has a long tradition of celebrating Holi, and no institution should interfere in these cultural festivities," he added.
With tensions rising over multiple political and cultural issues, Nirupam’s remarks are likely to spark further debate in the coming days.