New Delhi: The proposed inclusion of non-Muslim members in state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council was opposed by all opposition parties during the first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill Thursday, ThePrint has learnt.
The minority affairs ministry briefed the 31-member committee about the amendments proposed in the Bill, which was tabled in Parliament earlier this month. The Bill has proposed sweeping changes to the Waqf Act of 1995.
Sources said opposition MPs raised a number of objections regarding the proposed provisions, such as the inclusion of non-Muslim members, giving more powers to district collectors, among others. BJP ally Janata Dal (United), during the meeting, said it is holding consultations with the Muslim community, which has expressed reservations over some aspects of the Bill, and that it will discuss these at the next meeting, a JPC member said.
On some issues, especially the inclusion of non-Muslim members, there was severe disagreement, but members were assured that the government would respond to all their queries, it is learnt.
Sources said that MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party, the Trinamool Congress, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) questioned the need and logic behind the proposal to include non-Muslim members in state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council.
A JPC member, requesting anonymity, said that many members questioned the government’s intent and alleged that the Bill has provisions that are “unconstitutional” and “not in the interests” of the Muslim community.
“This was countered by the BJP members and its allies too,” the JPC member said.
The issue of a practicing Muslim was also raised during the meeting, it is learnt. According to the proposed Bill, only a Muslim who has been practicing the religion for the last five years can make a waqf.
The Bill has also proposed a centralised system for the registration of waqf properties and empowering district collectors. The amendments propose that the district collector will be the arbiter in case of a dispute over waqf land. The collector will also be responsible for carrying out surveys of waqf properties, which, under the current Act, is done by the Survey Commission.
Opposition MPs, it is learnt, questioned the idea behind granting more powers to the collectors. “The opposition MPs questioned the logic and motive behind the move of having non-Muslim members in the committee which oversees religious properties. Some asked whether in Hindu temples it is allowed and the answer obviously is no,” said a source.
While pushing for the amendments, the Modi government said they are necessary to bring transparency in the functioning of waqf boards.
“No one is against transparency and in ensuring that the system works better, but the motive of the government is questionable and shows bias,” the source quoted above added.
Another source said that a number of members felt that the government officials who attended the meeting had not come prepared to answer their queries.
The 31-member committee was formed by the Lok Sabha to study the contentious Bill that drew sharp protests from opposition parties and Muslim organisations across the country.
YSRCP leader Vijaysai Reddy, a Rajya Sabha MP and a member of the JPC, posted on X that the Bill was not acceptable in its current form, and various stakeholders have concerns. He stated that he opposed the Bill at the meeting Thursday, in line with his party’s stand and the decision of party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
In line with the decision of our party president Sri @ysjagan Garu and the party’s official stand, the Waqf Board amendment Bill was opposed by me in today’s meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) with a rationale. This bill has many concerns of various stakeholders…
— Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) August 22, 2024
He further wrote: “As a member of JPC, I would like to hear from all stakeholders and be your voice in the committee. If there are any concerns, or objections that you have, then you can email me…I will put forth the concerns before the committee by way of a “dissenting note” which will form part of a permanent record in the annals of history.”
AAP’s Sanjay Singh, in a video message on X, said the Bill is against Article 26 of the Constitution that ensures freedom to manage religious affairs. “The Modi government wanted to capture the land of farmers across the country by bringing black laws, but failed. It then gave 13,000 acres of Army land to Adani in Ayodhya, now it wants to capture waqf land and give it to Adani. It next wants to take over the land of gurdwara, temple and church…”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also proposes to rename the present Act to ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act’. A JPC member also wanted to know the reasons behind the proposed renaming.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also read: Govt intent to ‘reform’ waqf is suspicious. Consult Muslims first
If non-Hindus can be part of temple management committees and can even lead the temple management committee, then why non-Muslims cannot be part of Waqf Board.
This is patently discriminatory. The laws must be uniform for all religions.
Today’s India will not accept minority appeasement under the garb of secularism.
The TMC and the DMK should be ashamed of their stance on this issue. In the states ruled by them (Bengal, Tamil Nadu), they have appointed scores of non-Hindus in temple management committees.