Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi triggered a new controversy on Tuesday with his comments on the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling upon the Muslim community to organize protests like the farmers' agitation that spanned months.
Talking to IANS, Alvi stated that the community was entitled to express its opposition to what he termed as "imposed" legislation. He recommended that they express their resistance through sit-in protests on the streets.
He made the remarks in reaction to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's threat that protests similar to the 2020 Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) could erupt across the country.
Alvi said, "They should have made a slight change in their statement. Rather than saying that they will make the nation Shaheen Bagh, they could have said they will strongly resist the Centre's pressure on the Waqf Bill."
He also added, "They should have announced that they will protest like the farmers protested—occupying roads and conducting sit-ins for two years."
The Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi, which made headlines internationally in 2020, was focused on fears that the CAA would take away Muslims' basic rights. Protesters took over roads for months, greatly inconveniencing daily commuters.
In spite of attempts by the government to refute allegations of discrimination under the CAA, the Opposition generally managed to create a public narrative that the law threatened the community's rights and privileges.
Alvi’s statement has reignited debate over the Waqf Amendment Bill, adding a new dimension to the ongoing political discourse.
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