Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The members of the Muslim community wore black bands to offer Juma prayers at Bhopal's Taj-ul-Masajid on Friday, to protest the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the newly reconstituted MP Waqf Board on Friday.
The symbolic protest comes days after the Madhya Pradesh government reconstituted the Waqf Board and, for the first time in the country, appointed two non-Muslim members—Manoj Malpani from Indore and Animesh Bhargava from Raghogarh in Guna district—to the board.
According to organisers, worshippers from different parts of Bhopal will gather at Taj-ul-Masajid for Friday prayers and wear black bands on their hands to express their opposition to the government's decision.
The issue also led to the resignation of Nikah Qazi Mohammad Maaz Khan Nomani Nadvi from the post of General Secretary of the Deeni Taleemi Board. He cited differences over the support extended to some members of the newly formed Waqf Board.
In the past two days, several Islamic scholars and leaders of Muslim organisations have also criticised the government's decision.
Jamiyat Ulema Madhya Pradesh president Mufti Mohammad Ahmad questioned the government's claim of transparency, saying that if such representation is introduced in the Waqf Board, Muslims should also be included in committees of other religions. Naib Sadar Mufti Zia Qasmi made a similar demand.
Friday's black-band protest is being seen as the first large symbolic protest after demonstrations, memorandums, public statements, video messages and resignations over the issue.
