Mumbai- 10/ December: siyasat.net.
A delegation of prominent NGO leaders and religious heads from different denominations and schools of the Muslims community cutting across sects led by Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi met Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday at his Vidhan Sabha office. The delegation expressed their concerns over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) and lodged their unhappiness with the intention of the Central government for passage of the CAB.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 that seeks to give Indian nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan passed by the lower House test Monday midnight, with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 in opposing it.
After offering their good wishes to the CM, the delegation told him about the loopholes of the Bill and said that it would be a great threat for the security of India as many spies from neighboring countries most probably will enter the country and can seek position in important jobs in our country in guise of refugees, besides it’s being against the constitution and biased against the second majority community of India – Muslims.
The delegation also gave the CM a letter in which they stated that the citizens of India are concerned towards this very important issue.
Maulana Daryabadi told the CM that the bill is against secular, democratic and republic fabrics of our Indian Constitution. India is a great country with unity in diversity, the idea of India is equality and respect for all. The CAB, if passed, will ruin apart the basics of our Constitution forever.
Speaking to the Eastern Crescent Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi, a member of the delegation, said that the meeting was very positive as the Chief Minister assured that his party (Shive Sena) won’t support the CAB unless its all concerns are addressed by the Central Government. The CM also said that despite the fact that the Sena voted in favour of the Bill last night in Lok Sabha but now the Sena will oppose the bill in the Rajya Sbha, Maulana Qasmi added.
It is notable that Shiv Sena is demanding that people who get Indian citizenship under the CAB should not be given voting rights for 25 years. Participating in the debate on the bill in the Lower House, party MP Vinayak Raut had also sought clarity on how and in which states these people would be rehabilitated.
According to delegation members the half an hour interaction with the Maharashtra CM and Shive Sena supremo was satisfying.
Members of the delegation included Mahmood Daryabadi, GS, All India Ulema Council, Mr Farid Shaikh, President Mumbai Aman Committee, Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi, Director Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Center, Mr. Aslam Ghazi, Jamat-e Islami Hind, Dr. Azimuddin, President, Movement for Human Welfare, Mr. Saleem Motorwala, Managing Trustee BEST, Maul. Ijaz Kashmiri, Imam Handiwaali Masjid, Maul. Anees Ashrafi, Raza Foundation, Maul. Aziz Haider, Shia Isna Ahsari Jamat, Maul. Manzar Salafi, Jamat Ahle Hadis, Mufti Taha, Member Deoband Alumni Federation.
Mr. Rais Shaikh, MLA (SP) who was also with the delegation and welcomed the group at Vidhan Sabha gate.
