TMembers of the Muslim community in Manipur’s Thoubal district staged a protest on Thursday against the appointment of non-Muslim members to the state Waqf Board, demanding a review of the decision.
The protesters marched nearly four kilometres from Usoipokpi to Lilong Bazar, raising slogans against the BJP-led government and expressing concern over the inclusion of non-Muslims in the board responsible for matters related to Waqf properties.
The protest comes after the Manipur government, on August 3, appointed seven members to the state’s eighth Waqf Board. The appointments included BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP A Sharda Devi.
Members of the Pangal, or Muslim, community said the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the board had caused resentment and raised concerns over the community’s role in managing its religious affairs.
“The inclusion of non-Muslim members has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Pangal community. It also raises concerns over our religious identity and the long-standing practice of managing our own religious affairs,” a protester told reporters.
The appointments were made under provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act, which allows for the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members on Waqf management boards.
Amid the growing concerns, Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said he had met representatives of civil society organisations from the Pangal community to discuss their objections and concerns regarding the composition of the Waqf Board.
Waqf Board chairman Y Antaz Khan was also present at the meeting, the chief minister said in a social media post.
Singh said the concerns raised by the representatives would be examined on priority.
The meeting was welcomed by the Coordination Committee for Protection of Waqf Properties Manipur (CCPWPM), which said the chief minister was aware of the concerns expressed by the Pangal community.
“We thank the chief minister for meeting us and discussing the issues. He was aware of the concerns of the Pangal community over the matter,” a representative of the organisation said.
The protest reflects the concerns within sections of Manipur’s Pangal community over the recent appointments and the participation of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board.
The state government has assured that the issues raised by community representatives will be examined, while the protesters and organisations associated with the movement have called for a review of the appointments.
