The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government will table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, announced on Tuesday.
The bill will be presented for consideration and passing after the Question Hour, followed by an eight-hour discussion, subject to extension, Rijiju informed.
Earlier, Kiren Rijiju had briefed BJP spokespersons on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the party’s headquarters, providing a detailed overview and emphasizing its benefits for the Muslim community. He asserted that the bill does not interfere with religious institutions’ freedom but rather aims to grant rights to those who previously lacked them. The bill seeks to reform Waqf management by enhancing transparency and digitization.
However, the amendment bill has faced strong criticism from the opposition, which has called it “unconstitutional” and accused the BJP of attempting to “snatch” the rights of Muslims. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi described the bill as a “grave violation” of Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29 of the Indian Constitution. He further referred to it as the “Waqf Barbaad Bill” and questioned NDA allies, including Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary, on their support for the proposed amendments.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also voiced strong opposition, alleging that the BJP is seeking to exert control over all aspects of governance. “We are against the Waqf Board Bill because the BJP wants to interfere in everything. They want control everywhere,” Yadav said.
The bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year, after which a Joint Parliamentary Committee, led by Jagdambika Pal, was formed for further deliberation.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, addressing key issues in regulating and managing Waqf properties. It seeks to enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing reforms such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of Waqf, improving the registration process, and incorporating technology to manage Waqf records more effectively.
The Waqf Act of 1995 was originally enacted to regulate Waqf properties but has long been criticized for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The proposed amendments seek to address these challenges and ensure better administration of Waqf assets across India.