Maulana Mohammed Fazlurrahim Mujaddidi, Rector of Jamea TulHidayat (Waqf) in Jaipur and General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, has come under heavy fire from Rajasthan BJP for his vocal opposition to the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. In an attempt to undermine his credibility, the ruling party levelled several serious allegations against him, including accusations of creating a “new Pakistan.”
The BJP’s attack, spearheaded by state agricultural minister Karodi Lal Meena, appears to be a tactic to silence Maulana Mujaddidi’s activism against the controversial bill. During a press conference at the state BJP headquarters on September 30, Meena made multiple accusations, targeting both Jamea Hidayat and Maulana Mujaddidi personally.
In response, Maulana Mujaddidi, alongside his legal team, held a press conference on October 3. His attorney, Advocate M.A. Khan, strongly refuted all the allegations, calling them politically motivated and intended to malign the institution. He emphasized that the accusations were entirely baseless and an attempt to incite a particular community against the Maulana.
Minister Meena claimed that Maulana Mujaddidi, along with his daughter Samra Sultana and son-in-law Mohammed Shoeb, were Congress party members, attempting to disrupt the peace at the behest of the opposition. However, Advocate Khan dismissed these allegations, stating that neither Samra Sultana nor Mohammed Shoeb had any affiliation with the Congress party.
Encroachment Accusations on Jamea Hidayat Land
One of the most significant accusations was that Jamea Hidayat was built on an encroached government land. Advocate Khan clarified that the Waqf Jamea Hidayat was established by Maulana AbdurrahimMujaddidi, and the waqf deed was registered with Sub-Registrar of Jaipur City on December 11, 1972. Maulana Fazlurrahim, as the mutawalli (custodian) of the waqf, legally purchased the property, and it was duly registered under the Waqf Act, 1995.
On the charge that Maulana Mujaddidi was a selling government land, Advocate Khan countered that no sale or transfer of waqf property had occurred. In fact, Maulana Mujaddidi had published public notices in newspapers, warning against the unauthorized sale of Jamea Hidayat’s property. Legal cases were filed against individuals attempting to encroach on the waqf land.
Meena further alleged that Maulana Mujaddidi had illegal possession of 1,400 bighas of land. Advocate Khan clarified that Jamea Hidayat lawfully purchased 20-25 bighas of land from the original landholders, whose names appeared in official government records. The ongoing legal dispute over this land is currently under consideration by the Additional Collector’s court in Jaipur, making any further comments inappropriate at this stage.
1,400 Bigha Land Controversy
The 1,400 bighas of land in Lalwas and Amer Tehsil, originally owned by the former ruler of Jaipur, included 152 bighas sold to Jamea Hidayat. In 1990, the state government illegally transferred this land to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rajasthan Police. However, a Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court ruled in favour of Jamea Hidayat, recognizing its ownership of the 152 bighas.
The case is now pending before the Supreme Court, with a status-quo order in place, ensuring no construction on the disputed land.
Video Allegations of Incitement
Meena presented a video during his press conference, alleging that Maulana Mujaddidi had incited the Muslim community. However, Maulana Mujaddidi’s lawyer labelled the video a fabrication, explaining that it was another individual, Jiyaulrahim, who was featured in the video, not Maulana Mujaddidi. The BJP and its ideological partner, the RSS, have been accused of using such misleading tactics to spread false narratives.
“New Pakistan” Remark
During his press conference, Minister Meena irresponsibly referred to a new “Pakistan” being established in Sadwa Mod, Jaipur. Maulana Mujaddidi denounced this comment, calling it not only unfounded but also an affront to the constitutional responsibilities of a government minister. He referenced a recent Supreme Court observation where the bench, led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, reprimanded a Karnataka High Court judge for referring to a Bengaluru neighborhood as “Pakistan,” noting that such statements undermine the sovereignty of the nation.
FCRA Allegations and Financial Transparency
Meena further claimed that Jamea Hidayat was receiving Rs 1,000 crore annually in foreign donations from the Gulf and other countries. Maulana Mujaddidi responded by clarifying that any institution receiving foreign contributions must register under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Both Jamea Hidayat and the Maulana Abdur Rahim Educational Trust have valid FCRA registrations and have been filing their statements regularly. Moreover, he stated that no foreign donations had been received over the past four years.
He also addressed claims that the Musa Foundation was involved in foreign donations, stating that the foundation had not yet been activated and had never received foreign funds.
Baseless Land Sale Allegations in Mumbai
Meena’s accusations extended to an alleged sale of Schedule Tribe land in Mumbai by Jamea Hidayat. However, Maulana Mujaddidi dismissed this claim as entirely fabricated, asserting that Jamea Hidayat had no involvement with any Schedule Tribe properties.
In an attempt to portray Maulana Mujaddidi as an instigator of violence and an opponent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meena referred to his meetings with opposition leaders. Advocate Khan refuted these claims, explaining that Maulana Mujaddidi had met with numerous national leaders, including BJP MP Jagdamba Pal, to discuss the concerns surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill. These meetings were aimed at addressing the problematic provisions of the bill, not at targeting the BJP or its leadership.
Despite the onslaught of allegations, Maulana Mujaddidi has maintained a composed and non-confrontational stance. He has even offered Minister Meena an opportunity to meet and clear up any misunderstandings.
As the BJP continues to push its narrative, Maulana Mujaddidi’s defence has brought clarity to a politically charged situation, emphasizing transparency and legal adherence in all aspects of Jamea Hidayat’s operations.