Hindus vs Muslims: QR Codes For Waqf Bill Fight Go Religious

After being associated with certain colours and culinary spreads, religion now seems to have entered the digital space as well where two QR codes — one championed by the Hindus and another by Muslims — quietly took India by surprise as a Joint Parliamentary Committee sought suggestions from the public on the Waqf Bill that sparked off animated debates.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha last month and was referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament for further examination after opposition parties raised strong objections to certain provisions of the draft law. Ever since the JPC sought public suggestion, a large Muslim section started sending emails to the committee objecting to certain provisions. To make it simple, they created a QR code scanning which will lead to a draft mail that is already articulated opposing the bill. One just needs to press the send button. This effort got a massive push during Friday prayers in mosques where, in many instances, fear-mongering started through loudspeakers.

Seeing the response, the Hindu side did not sit idle. They, too, created a QR code scanning which a similar draft mail that will be ready with a different argument, batting for the bill. During the recent Ganesh Chaturthi, small posters were put up on many canopies and tents meant for Ganesha Puja, to reach out to a larger section, arguing why they should back the bill.

While Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged his community to oppose the amendment tooth and nail describing it as ‘oppressive and unconstitutional’, BJP’s hardline MLA from Goshamahal in Telangana, T Raja Singh, was seen urging the Hindu community to equally back the Bill at a Ganesha Puja.

The QR code of the Muslim side is being advertised in the name of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board as well as functionaries of Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party. A scan will lead to an Urdu version of the letter on the letterhead of AIMPLB.

The QR code of the Hindu side is being advertised by individuals who feel strongly about it, by organisations like Prachyam among others. Scanning the Hindu side’s QR code will lead to a long mail that finally makes three demands: “We demand equality. We demand justice. We demand that 1. The Waqf Act be amended/repealed immediately. 2. All the properties held by the Waqf Boards across the country be taken over by the Government. 3. High-level committees be set up at the National and State levels to probe every such property so that it can be returned to their rightful heirs.” Their mail calls the act in its present form “draconian” citing an example of how “an entirely Hindu village in Tiruchendurai, Tamil Nadu, which includes an over 1500-year-old Hindu temple that has been “declared as Waqf property”.

The JPC, formed to review the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, has so far received around 84 lakh suggestions via email from across India. But clearly, the battle lines have been drawn over QR codes as the JPC is scheduled for its next meeting for three days between September 18 and 20. On September 19, the JPC will hear the opinions of stakeholders including Prof Faizan Mustafa, Vice Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, Patna; Pasamanda Muslim Mahaaz; and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. On September 20, the last day of this 3-day hearing, the committee will hear inputs from the All India Sajjadanashin Council, Ajmer, Muslim Rashtriya Manch — an RSS affiliate and Delhi-based Bharat First, say sources.