In a powerful display of unity and assertion, the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), under the leadership of its president and MLA Prof Dr MH Jawahirullah, staged a massive rally and public conference in Madurai.  The event was aimed at raising urgent demands for fair political representation of Muslims in legislative bodies and the repeal of the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. It also addressed broader socio-political issues affecting minorities, secularism, and democratic institutions in the country. 

The rally drew thousands of supporters who marched with party flags, banners, and placards. Slogans echoing demands for justice, protection of Waqf properties, and Muslim empowerment filled the air. Addressing the sea of supporters at the South Zone Public Conference, Prof Jawahirullah declared, “Our struggle is not for power. It is to protect secularism, defend minority rights, and ensure inclusive governance.”

He criticised the Waqf Amendment Act as unconstitutional and alleged that it was “designed to dismantle minority institutions and loot their assets through tools like the Umeed portal.” He highlighted the glaring under-representation of Muslims in Indian politics, pointing out that though Muslims constitute over 16 percent of the country’s population, they account for just 24 MPs in the 2024 Lok Sabha.

“We should have at least 80 Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha. Even in the Chennai Corporation, where Muslims form nearly 10% of the population, only four of the 200 councillors are Muslim,” he said, calling upon all parties to address this democratic imbalance. Prof Jawahirullah also launched a scathing attack on the recent amendments to the Waqf Act, claiming that they were aimed at dispossessing Muslim communities of their endowments.

“The BJP government is using the so-called Umeed Portal as a tool to usurp Waqf assets. If the Act is not repealed, we are ready to launch a mass protest on the scale of the farmers’ agitation,” he warned. Retired IPS officer and noted author Abdur Rahman, speaking as a chief guest, brought academic weight and historical context to the discussion. Referencing his book “Absent in Politics and Power: Political Exclusion of Indian Muslims”, he noted that Muslims had consistently faced political deprivation in post-independence India. 

“In 17 Lok Sabha elections from 1952 to 2019, Muslim MPs constituted only 5.78 percent of the strength. In 2024, we had just 25 Muslim MPs, far below the 78 seats that should reflect our population share,” Abdur Rahman said. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)