The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has demanded that state governments pay compensation to Muslim youths, who have been acquitted by courts after languishing in jail for years on alleged terror charges.
Expressing resentment over several Muslim youths lodged in jails without any charge sheet filed, the AIMPLB, an apex body of Muslims in the country, put forward its views on direct taxes, Waqf properties and Right to Education during its 23rd convention, which ended in the temple city last night after a public meeting addressed by renowned Islamic scholars.
AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi and other speakers said that it was a matter of concern that many Muslim youths were kept in jail for years for alleged terror activities without any charge sheet filed against them and demanded that state governments concerned pay Rs 25 lakh to those acquitted by the courts.
The speakers termed India as a secular country, which guarantees right to religion and practice as per one's faith, but alleged that some people are trying to alter the country's democratic character.
They also expressed concern at performance of Surya Namaskar, singing of Vande Mataram and recital of Bhojan Mantra before midday meal at schools by the Madhya Pradesh government.
According to them, these acts in a secular country were against the spirit of the Constitution.
Demanding an early passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill so that Waqf properties can be saved, the AIMPLB said the Waqf Board should be empowered to evict people staying illegally from its properties and states should return all Waqf properties in their possession.
Earlier in the day, the spokesperson and AIMPLB assistant general secretary Abdur Raheem Qureshi told reporters that the Board was opposed to the Direct Tax Bill introduced in Parliament, as it seeks to discontinue the tax exemption given to religious institutes under the Income-Tax Act.
