Why were non-Muslims included in the Waqf Board, what will be their role? Amit Shah explained

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday clarified during the debate on the Wakf (Amendment) Bill that non-Muslim members in the Wakf Board will have no role in religious matters. He accused opposition leaders of "spreading misconceptions" about the bill. Throwing light on the history of the establishment of Waqf, Amit Shah said that the Waqf Act and Board came into existence in 1995. "All the arguments about including non-Muslims are about interference in Waqf. First of all, understand that no non-Muslim will come into Waqf. This is clear... there is no provision to include any non-Muslim among those who run religious institutions; we do not want to do this."

1995 तक वक्फ की काउंसिल और वक्फ बोर्ड था ही नहीं. ये जो भ्रम पैदा किया किया जा रहा है कि ये एक्ट मुस्लिम भाइयों के धार्मिक क्रियाकलापों और उनकी दान की हुई संपत्ति को दखल करने के लिए है...यह वोट बैंक खड़ा करने के लिए किया जा रहा हैः लोक सभा में गृह मंत्री @AmitShah #WaqfBill pic.twitter.com/CwbG9GArWg

— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) April 2, 2025

Conspiracy to spread fear among minorities

The Home Minister said that a big misconception is being spread that "this Act will interfere in the religious practice of Muslims and interfere in the property donated by them." He further said, "This misconception is being spread to create fear among minorities so that their vote bank can be gained." Amit Shah clarified that non-Muslim members will be part of the council and the Waqf Board.

"वक्फ में न मुतल्लवी गैर-इस्लामिक होगा, न वाकिफ. कोई गैर-मुस्लिम सदस्य रखने का प्रावधान न किया है, न हम करना चाहते हैं...1995 तक तो न वक्फ काउंसिल था ना वक्फ बोर्ड. वक्फ धार्मिक कार्य नहीं करता. दान में मिली संपत्ति का प्रबंधन देखना वक्फ की जिम्मेदारी है."

गृह मंत्री @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/42U0nUZucM

— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) April 2, 2025

Role of non-Muslim members

He said, "Their job is not to interfere in religious matters. Their job is to monitor whether the administration of the Waqf Act and the funds given for donations are running smoothly or not." With this statement, Shah tried to clarify the purpose of the bill and respond to the allegations of the opposition.