The Narendra Modi-led BJP government is preparing to introduce a bill in the upcoming Parliament session to amend the Waqf Act, aiming to limit the extensive powers of Waqf boards. The Union Cabinet has approved around 40 amendments to the act, which will be presented next week.
The proposed amendments intend to curtail the Waqf Board’s authority to designate any property as “Waqf property.” Currently, Waqf Boards oversee approximately 870,000 properties covering around 940,000 acres, valued at lakhs of crores of rupees.
The move has elicited various reactions from Muslim organizations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the All India Imam Organization.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the BJP’s stance, saying that the party has consistently aimed to undermine the Waqf Board.
“BJP has been against the Waqf Board and Waqf properties since the beginning, and there is a ‘Hindutva agenda’ of RSS,” Owaisi said. “They have continued to put efforts to end the Waqf Board and properties from the start.”
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali of the AIMPLB argued against the need for amendments, suggesting that any changes should be made in consultation with stakeholders.
“As far as the Waqf law is concerned, it is important that the property should be used only for charitable purposes for which the Waqf has been done,” Rasheed said. “Currently, we do not feel that there is any need to make any kind of amendment to this Waqf Act. If the government feels that there is any need, then the government should consult and take the opinion of the stakeholders before making any amendment.”
Conversely, BJP leader Mohsin Raza welcomed the bill, accusing Waqf Boards of overstepping their authority and misusing properties meant for the upliftment of backward Muslims.
“If this bill is brought, we will welcome it. There are lakhs of Waqf properties across the country, and people are not getting justice,” Raza commented. “Waqf was created for the upliftment of backward Muslims and it has not been used properly, it has just been misused.”
Dr. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organization, highlighted the importance of maintaining the dignity of Waqf while avoiding politicization of the issue.
“The amendment is a part of the process that keeps on happening from time to time,” Ilyasi stated.
“Amendments have been made in the Waqf Act earlier also. It should be taken care of that the dignity of Waqf should not be harmed. It is the need of the hour to do amendment, and there should be no politics over it. There should be a discussion on it,” he said.
