New Delhi: The NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to amend the Waqf Act. Sources revealed to Aaj Tak that the Cabinet approved 40 amendments on Friday. These changes aim to restrict the Waqf Boards authority to designate any property as Waqf property. The bill for these amendments is expected to be introduced in Parliament next week.Key Amendments to the Waqf ActAccording to sources, all claims made by the Waqf Board on properties will now require mandatory verification. This step is intended to prevent any misuse of the Waqf Boards powers. Currently, the Waqf Board oversees approximately 870,000 properties across 940,000 acres. The original Waqf Act of 1995, strengthened by the UPA government in 2013, gave significant authority to the Board to manage these properties. The proposed amendments also aim to ensure greater inclusiveness by mandating the representation of women in the Central Waqf Council and state boards. BJP leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister, Mohsin Raza, remarked, The entire country and society demanded such a law due to the extensive misuse of the 1995 act by the Waqf Board.JDU and RJD talks on judgement for the billThe proposed amendments have sparked reactions from various political parties. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar expressed caution, stating, We need to see the proposed bills format before making any judgments. Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari criticized the government for allegedly targeting a particular religion to divert attention from real issues. The governments eyes are somewhere else, the target is somewhere else. Targeting a particular religion, raising controversial issues, the current central government adopts these methods so that the real issues are not discussed, said Tiwari.Opposition from AIMIM and AIMPLBHyderabad MP and AIMIM chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, accused the government of attempting to seize Waqf properties, calling it an attack on constitutional religious freedoms. This amendment in the Waqf Act is being done with the intention of snatching away Waqf properties. This is an attack on the right to religious freedom given in the Constitution. RSS has always had the intention of snatching away Waqf properties, Owaisi stated.#WATCH | On media reports that the central government is likely to bring a bill to curb the powers of the Waqf Board over assets, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, Firstly, when Parliament is in session, the central government is acting against parliamentary supremacy and… pic.twitter.com/XJ7hixY7UZ— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2024AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali emphasized the historical importance of Waqf properties and called for stakeholder consultations before any amendments. Our ancestors donated a large part of their property and they made it Waqf under Islamic law. So as far as Waqf law is concerned, it is necessary that the property should be used only for those charitable purposes for which it was donated by our ancestors, he said.Concerns from ScholarsHistorian S. Irfan Habib questioned the governments intentions, suggesting the amendments might be aimed at usurping Waqf lands. He noted, The question is on the governments intention whether it wants to usurp the Waqf lands. If a law is coming, it should be for good. As is being discussed, women should also be a part of it.Maulana Sufiyan Nizami highlighted the need for proper implementation of existing laws rather than introducing new ones. He urged the government to strengthen the Waqf Boards authority and ensure occupied properties are vacated or that appropriate rent is collected. Our elders donated their private property to Waqf so that it could be used for the progress of Muslims. We already have the Waqf Act, and the Waqf Board was formed so that the Waqf property could be managed properly, Nizami emphasized.
