The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has issued a strong appeal to “secular political parties”, including BJP allies, urging them to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, which is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 2. The Board has called on Members of Parliament to vote against the bill, warning that it could further the BJP’s “communal agenda.”
The Waqf Amendment Bill, introduced by the BJP-led government, proposes changes to the management and legal protection of Waqf properties. Key provisions include allowing non-Muslim members on Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council, removing exemptions under the Law of Limitation, and shifting dispute resolution from Waqf Tribunals to Collectors or District Magistrates. Critics argue that these amendments could lead to government control over Waqf properties, weakening their legal protections.
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of AIMPLB, has condemned the bill, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. “This bill violates Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution, which ensure equality and freedom of religion,” Rahmani said. He appealed to all secular parties and MPs to not only oppose the bill but also vote against it to prevent the BJP from advancing its communal agenda.
Rahmani warned that the bill would undermine the user rights of Waqf properties and allow illegitimate claims from government and non-governmental entities. “The BJP aims to weaken Waqf laws and facilitate the seizure and destruction of Waqf properties,” he alleged. He also criticized the bill for targeting Muslim endowments while leaving protections for other religious communities intact, calling it an unjust move that could harm communal harmony.
The opposition parties have united in their opposition to the bill. Congress MP KC Venugopal described it as a “draconian attack” on constitutional freedoms, while AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi labeled it “discriminatory and anti-Muslim.” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of pushing the bill to appease its hardcore supporters.
The Opposition INDIA bloc has formed a strategy to fight the bill in Parliament. Leaders from Congress, Samajwadi Party, NCP, TMC, and AAP held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss their joint approach. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal, along with other key opposition figures, attended the meeting.
“All opposition parties are united and will work together to defeat the unconstitutional and divisive agenda of the Modi government regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill,” Kharge said in a statement.
As the bill is set to be discussed in the Lok Sabha, the showdown between the government and opposition is expected to be a key moment in the ongoing budget session.
