Shia Central Board of Waqfs: Jawwad gives 24 hours to CM before starting ‘Jail Bharo’ stir

Jawwad, while addressing supporters after Friday prayers, said the ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation will be held on Sunday. “It will be held simultaneously in 40 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. It will be a peaceful agitation. We are being forced to take the extreme step as the government is yet to give any positive assurance on our demand,” he added.

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The crowd outside Bada Imambara has increased with Shias from several parts of Lucknow coming out in support of Jawwad’s demand. Earlier, only two Shia Anjumans were sitting on a dharna but now, five Anjumans are participating every day.

A loudspeaker too has been installed at the main entrance of Bada Imambara and protesters are raising slogans against Minority Welfare Minister Azam Khan and Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board Javed Abedi.

On the other hand, women from the Shia community, who had locked Chhota Imambara, continued their hunger strike for the 16th consecutive day. Two women were admitted to hospital on Friday. Shabi Rizvi, chairperson of an outfit of Shia women, Kaneezane Zehra — which is organising the protest — claimed that the women will not leave the spot till demands raised by Jawwad were met by the government and Rizvi was sacked.

Jawwad had met the chief minister on Wednesday but the meeting remained inconclusive. Jawwad is adamant on his demand for removal of Rizvi as the chairman of Shia Central Board of Waqfs. Two more demands have been included in his list — handing over monuments of Hussainabad Trust to the Shia community and imposition of Islamic Shariah rule in Imambaras.

Anjuman-e-Haidri, a Delhi-based Shia group, has announced that its members will court arrest on Sunday outside the residence of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in New Delhi in support of Jawwad’s demands.
Meanwhile on Friday, a separate group of Shia members gathered at Talkatora Karbala to protest against Jawwad’s demonstration. They raised slogans in support of the state government and later dispersed.