New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday strongly criticised the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for its threat of a 'Shaheen Bagh'-like protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, warning that such rhetoric could escalate into a 'Jallianwala Bagh' type situation.

The AIMPLB had claimed that if Parliament passes the Waqf Amendment Bill, the country would witness another 'Shaheen Bagh'—a reference to the 2019-20 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Speaking to IANS, Nirupam defended the amendments, asserting that they were meant to resolve existing issues within the Waqf Board and would not harm the Muslim community.

He argued that the Waqf Board, which controls over 8 lakh acres of land, has operated without proper oversight for years.

"The Waqf Board operates like a big shop, and its land transactions have often gone unscrutinised. The proposed changes aim to remove these irregularities for the benefit of common Muslims. The real concerns lie with the Maulanas and Maulvis, who benefit from these unchecked dealings," Nirupam stated.

Warns against 'Shaheen Bagh'-style protests
Nirupam cautioned that any attempt to incite protests over the Bill could backfire.

"If certain sections are eying particular benefits by threatening another Shaheen Bagh-like stir, they should be warned that this could also lead to a situation like Jallianwala Bagh," he said.

Defends three-language formula, criticises Tamil Nadu opposition
Addressing the ongoing debate over the Three-Language Formula, Nirupam defended it as a practical policy introduced by former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

According to him, the system ensures respect for regional languages while promoting Hindi as the national language and English as a modern communication tool.

He criticised Tamil Nadu politicians, particularly those from the DMK, for politicising the issue.

"In Maharashtra, where Marathi is the dominant language, the three-language formula works fine. There’s no reason why Tamil Nadu can't implement it in the same way," Nirupam remarked.

Slams AMU for restricting Holi celebrations
Nirupam also weighed in on Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) decision to prevent students from celebrating Holi on campus, calling it unjustified.

"It is wrong to prevent anyone from celebrating Holi," he stated.

"If Holi isn’t celebrated in India, where will it be celebrated? In Pakistan? We’ve been celebrating Holi here for centuries, and no one should be stopped from enjoying their festivals."

He further pointed out that if students at AMU were observing Ramzan and fasting during the holy month, they should also respect the right of others to celebrate their festivals.

With IANS inputs