Board plans strategy to counter Bill

All India Muslim Personal Law Board executive member Maulana Salman Nadvi boycotted the second day of the board meeting on Saturday.

Maulana Nadvi’s meeting with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to resolve the Ayodhya dispute had created a storm. A day before, he was questioned by board members about the meeting since it had distanced itself from the meeting.

On Saturday, he said his efforts would continue to resolve the issue peacefully and through dialogue with other groups. “A meeting is being planned next month with the Sadhus and other Hindu groups in Lucknow next month. I will go ahead. Approach could be different but intention is common, a solution to the dispute,” he said.

The controversy heated up on Saturday when Maulana Nadvi said a few persons ‘selectively’ targeted him over his attempt to resolve the dispute peacefully.

“Maulana Kamal Farooqui and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas were at the forefront in leading a verbal attack on me. I was not given any opportunity to present my stand at the meeting. I want a peaceful solution to the dispute. I will go ahead with my plans. The approach is different but intention is to resolve the issue,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

However, both Kamal Farooqui and Syed Qasim termed the allegations wrong. “It was a unanimous decision to question Maulana Nadvi and all wanted to know in what capacity he met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The meeting has damaged the reputation of the board. All are bound over by the rules of the board and should not break the rules. The sanctity of the board is damaged and suitable action should have to be initiated,” said Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas.

A committee was formed to inquire into the conduct of Maulana Nadvi with regard to the meeting. AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadwi, general secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani, secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and working committee member Maulana Arshad Madani were part of the committee.

Maulana Nadvi stroked The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is devising a strategy to counter the efforts of the Union government to introduce ‘The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill’, popularly known as the Triple Talaq Bill.

In the report, released annually during the plenary meet, the AIMPLB general secretary who presented the annual report at the board’s 26th plenary meet, appreciated the stand of the opposition parties on the issue. He requested the board members to work effectively to counter the threat to personal law with the instant triple talaq issue.

In his report, Moulana Rahmani reiterated that the government wanted to interfere in personal law matters, which are guaranteed in the Indian Constitution and that it is against the spirit of the constitution and previous court verdicts.

Regarding the contentious Babri Masjid issue, he elaborated on the legal battle in the apex court. He said that the court already is of the view that the case is related to the another controversy targeting board spokesperson Maulana Khaleelur-Rahman Sajjad Noumani. Presenting a video clip, he said Maulana Noumani had said he had met a few RSS leaders and visited the camps. “Is the AIMPLB run by the RSS,” he asked and also demanded a probe into another title of the land and does not relate to a matter of faith or belief. He said that the relevant documents had already been submitted, there are still some documents which are to be translated, as per the court’s observation.

Without naming anybody, he said that misleading rumors are being circulated, to the effect that some elements are trying to misguide the people on the Babri Masjid issue. He reiterated that the personal law board stand is that once a Masjid, always a Masjid. He said that they were ready for negotiations, which should be based on justice and honor.

Referring to various cases in the lower and higher courts across the country, he claimed that the board is taking note of them and pursuing the matter with the utmost judicial conscientiousness.

The report pointed out that eleven main issues pertaining to the Muslim community across the nation were approved for discussion in the working committee meeting as part of the agenda for the plenary held last night. statement of Maulana Naumani that Muslims in India would be massacred like their community members in Myanmar. Clarifying the massacre statement, Maulana Naumani said it was open fact and all across the country that everyone was speaking about weapons being distributed to right wing activists across the country.

Maulana Nadvi demanded AIMPLB be renamed as Shariat Application Board and efforts be made to educate the people about Islam. “My intention to set up an Islamic university at the disputed site and educate students of all religions about Islam,” he said.