After Congress, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi moves SC against Waqf Amendment Bill

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

After Congress MP Mohammed Jawed, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was cleared by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and is now awaiting Presidential assent.

The petition filed on Friday assails the Amendment Bill as unconstitutional, reported Bar and Bench.

Congress MP Mohammed Jawed too filed a petition before the top court against the bill, saying it is discriminatory towards Muslim community and violating their fundamental rights.

Jawed’s petition, filed through advocate Anas Tanwir, said the proposed law discriminated against the Muslim community by "imposing restrictions that are not present in the governance of other religious endowments".

Jawed was one of the members of the joint parliamentary committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill of 2024.

Owaisi on Wednesday, during a debate in Lok Sabha on Waqf Amendment Bill, staged a symbolic protest against the bill by tearing a copy of the legislation.

The Hyderabad MP cited the example of Mahatma Gandhi while he was in South Africa. He said if one reads history, one would find what Mahatma Gandhi had said about the laws of white South Africa.

"Mahatma Gandhi had said 'My conscience doesn't accept this' and he tore it up," Owaisi said.

"Like Gandhi, I am also tearing up this law. This is unconstitutional. The BJP wants to create divisiveness in this country in the name of temples and mosques. I condemn this and I request you to accept the 10 amendments," he said.

Owaisi further stated the bill is going to curb the rights of Muslims.