'ANTI-MUSLIM' WAQF BILL TO BE REFERRED TO JPC

New Delhi, NT Bureau: Calling the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 “unconstitutional”, “anti-Muslim” and “divisive”, a united Opposition came down heavily on the BJP-led Central government on Thursday for introducing it in the Lok Sabha, forcing the House to refer the Bill to a parliamentary committee for further scrutiny.

The Bill proposes sweeping changes to the Waqf Act of 1995, including redefining ‘waqf’, curtailing the power of waqf boards, giving the Centre the power to frame rules, allowing inclusion of non-Muslim members in waqf boards, among others.

This Bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution. Waqf properties are coming from the donations of the believers. The government is attacking the faith and religion of people. — Congress MP K C Venugopal

Some 44 amendments have been proposed in the Waqf Act, 1995. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha, said the government is open to consultation and a joint committee will be constituted soon with members from across parties to discuss the provisions of the Bill.

However, he vociferously rejected the Opposition’s charge that the Bill is “anti-constitutional, “antiMuslim” and that the Centre does not have the legislative competence to bring amendments on issues related to waqf boards.

Barring NDA allies Shiv Sena, JD(U) and TDP, opposition MPs led by the Congress attacked the government demanding that the Bill be either withdrawn or referred to a parliamentary committee. Congress’s K.C. Venugopal said the Bill is a “fundamental attack” on the Constitution.

The NDA government is totally against the minorities in this country, they are not for secularism, they are not for social justice. We have been telling the people of the country that they are communal parties, they are casteists, that's why they are doing like that. — K'taka CM Siddaramaiah

“We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions…it’s a direct attack on rights to religion and violates Article 26 (of the Constitution, which pertains to freedom to manage religious affairs),” he said.

‘Were non-Hindus part of Ram temple committee?’ Venugopal further said that the Bill, through amendments, proposes to make non-Muslims members of the governing body of state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council.

The forceful interference of the central and UP governments in matters of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf, and taking excessive interest in religious matters like temples and monasteries is against the Constitution and its principle of secularism. Is such narrow and selfish politics necessary? — BSP chief Mayawati

“When the committee to build the Ram temple was constituted, were non-Hindus part of it?” he asked, alleging that the Bill had been brought with an eye on Haryana and Maharashtra elections.

“You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson…this kind of divisive politics, India will not accept. It’s an attack on the federal system, freedom of religion…,” he added.

What is Waqf?

A waqf is a property given for a religious, educational or charitable cause by Muslims. In India, waqfs are governed under the Waqf Act. Each state has a Waqf Board led by a legal entity, who is vested with the power to acquire, hold and transfer a property. The Act was last amended in 2013.

The target is to sell defence, railway, Nazul land. Waqf board lands are just another link in the chain of 'schemes for the benefit of BJP members'... What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this is not done in other religious bodies?" — Samajwadi MP Akhilesh Yadav