On Thursday, the Indian government introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to change the laws that manage Waqf boards. The bill was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further review. Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, presented the “Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024” and proposed sending it to the JPC. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, “I will create the Joint Parliamentary Committee after talking to leaders of all parties.”
Opposition’s Strong Reaction
Opposition members strongly opposed the bill, claiming it attacks the Constitution, federalism, and minorities. The Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), two major allies of the NDA, supported the bill but wanted it sent to the JPC. Rijiju responded to the opposition’s concerns by stating that the bill does not interfere with religious freedoms or violate the Constitution.
Rijiju noted that this is not the first time a Waqf Bill has been introduced. He mentioned that the first Waqf Bill was brought in 1954 and has been amended several times. He emphasized that the current amendment aims to benefit Muslim women and children. Rijiju referred to recommendations from the Sachar Committee and a previous JPC that influenced this bill.
Opposition’s Criticism
The opposition argued that the Waqf Amendment Bill is an attack on the Constitution and federalism, and is unfair to minorities. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal criticized the bill, questioning why non-Muslims should not be allowed in Waqf councils when non-Hindus are allowed in temple boards as per the Supreme Court’s orders. He claimed the bill targets faith and religious rights and suggested it is part of a broader agenda against different religious communities.
Venugopal accused the government of introducing the bill for political gains ahead of elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand. He argued that the bill is divisive and that the public no longer supports such politics.
Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, accused the bill of being part of a planned political strategy. He criticized the bill for giving too much power to district officers and mentioned past issues with administrative decisions. Yadav claimed that the BJP is catering to its disappointed and radical supporters with this bill.
Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi expressed concern about the perceived injustice towards Muslims and warned that if the bill passes, minorities might feel insecure, possibly leading to public protests.
Legal and Constitutional Concerns
TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay argued that the bill violates Article 14 of the Constitution and is unconstitutional. He said it infringes on religious freedoms and undermines cooperative federalism. DMK MP K.Kanimozhi expressed disappointment over the government’s actions, stating that the bill is against the Constitution, federalism, minorities, and humanity.
Several other opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), also opposed the bill. However, the JD(U) supported the bill, stating that it is not anti-Muslim and aims to improve transparency in the management of Waqf institutions. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, a JD(U) leader and Union Minister, rejected claims that the bill is discriminatory, stating it is intended to bring transparency and accountability.
Details of the Bill
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes significant changes to the current Waqf Act. It aims to ensure that Muslim women and non-Muslims are represented in Waqf boards. The bill also seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, to the “Integrated Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.”
Copies of the bill were distributed to Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night. The bill proposes removing the current law’s Section 40, which deals with the board’s power to decide if property is Waqf property. It introduces a new structure for the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, ensuring representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in these bodies.
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