Should certain leaders’ claim about amended Waqf Bill being directed to help “poor” Muslims be accepted? Or is this “claim” simply a sign of their political desperation? If the leaders were really so concerned about helping “poor” Muslims, it is surprising that they haven’t taken needed action on so many fronts where “poor” Muslims are being and have been targeted. These include bulldozing of their properties- houses as well as work-places, spread of negative messages against them through social media, provoking communal behavior against them and so forth. The aim of these activities is exercising the much used anti-Muslim card to be able to enhance reach of their Hindu-card, that is the Hindu-vote-bank. Basically, the Waqf Bill seems directed towards the same goal.
After all, their eyes are set on Waqf-property, which are primarily linked with identity of Muslims, rich as well poor. Madarsas (educational institutions), run by Waqfs may be described as of several kinds, where the well-off as well as those from poor receive education at various levels. Where basic education is offered, these spell a solace for Muslims from poor families and rural areas, as their families send them here to stay as well as study. In addition to education, they get a place to stay, proper meals, clothes, etc., which cannot be afforded by their families, who are required to pay barely any fees or just what they can afford to. There are also madarsas which charge fees and offer high education.
Interestingly, while repeatedly laying stress on helping “poor” Muslims, the leaders have hardly specified as to how do they aim to do so through the amended Waqf Bill. If the center’s key concern is actually to help “poor” Muslims, a lot could have probably done till now without having to amend the Waqf Bill. Besides, it is strange that leaders in power aim to make the country a developed nation by apparently focusing on “poor” Muslims. Given that they form the minority and that all Muslims are not poor, it would be apparently more appropriate for them to focus on all who are poor, irrespective of their caste, religion or any other social identity. Think seriously, are all Hindus rich? Or can the country boast of any Hindu who is not affected by poverty-linked problems? The country would certainly fare better, if programs aimed at improving living conditions of the poor, whatever be their caste/religion are focused upon. These include increasing as well as improving their employment opportunities with better income, ensuring better education at nominal costs, improving their living conditions, providing free medical facilities and so forth.
Besides, why should religious-card be used politically to help the poor? Or at least try and give the impression through such political rhetoric of this being their aim? Given that Waqf Bill is strongly linked with Muslim identity and their moves to help poor, it is not surprising majority of Muslims seem fairly aggrieved by the same’s amendment. Perhaps, a possible political aim of certain leaders was to provoke them to this and perhaps yet greater form of agitation. This probably has pleased them to a degree, if an aim to amend the Waqf Bill was to anger the Muslims and try provoking communal chaos. Their underlying belief apparently is that the larger Hindu community would feel pleased if they agitate and target Muslims. And if this is so, from what angle does the amended Waqf Bill seek to help “poor” Muslims?
Given that assembly elections are scheduled in coming year in states where Muslims’ population does have some electoral influence which is marked by their presence in these state assemblies, there is nothing surprising about certain opposition and regional parties strongly displaying their stand against amended Waqf Bill. Please note the religious stamp of this political strategy has lesser prospects of serving as a communal drive to agitate extremist Hindus against Muslims than it has of uniting the latter and their supporters (including secular Hindus) against those who have favored amendments to Waqf Bill.
It may be noted, not all Indians- including Hindus as well as Muslims- are totally familiar with what Waqf Bill and amendments to it really imply. Herein, the attempt made by certain leaders to project their “secular” image as it being a move to help “poor” Muslims has hardly been accepted by Indians in general, who are more familiar with their anti-Muslim card. Prospects of this “secular” strategy being actually accepted as a secular move, to help “poor” Muslims, at present and in near future are as good as non-existent. Here, the decrease in electoral appeal of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s communal cards in recent past cannot be side-lined. In addition, chances of electoral strategies, banking primarily on “religious” cards in the manner that BJP appears to, are least likely to yield desired results. If this was the case, mega-Ayodhya card used by BJP would have helped it sweep the 2024 parliamentary polls and it would not have been heading a coalition government at present. Considering such points, BJP’s stand towards Waqf Bill is least likely to help it electorally. Politically, of course, this appears to have provided opposition parties substantial reason to make noise against BJP’s communal moves. Besides, the reality that BJP has not succeeded in passing the amended Waqf Bill by a strong majority cannot be ignored. In Rajya Sabha, while 128 votes supported it, 95 opposed it. In Lok Sabha, against 288 votes, 232 opposed it. This clearly indicates, passage of amended Waqf Bill is hardly suggestive of BJP’s political strength. Rather, the same may be viewed as a desperate move being tried by BJP to pronounce its “political” strength. Chances of these spelling electoral gains for BJP in the long run as well as some assembly elections may be viewed as fairly limited. With people in various parts of the country having taken to streets protesting against the amended Bill, the signs hardly favor the “secular” image and/or appeal of those who have supported the same!