The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, in which it is proposed to make extensive changes in the Waqf Act of 1995. The government seems to be fully committed to pass this bill in the Lok Sabha, while the opposition has strongly opposed it, calling it unconstitutional. During the discussion in the Lok Sabha, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government. He termed this bill as a direct attack on the religious, social and economic rights of Muslims and called it a violation of Articles 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution and said that its purpose is to raise Muslims.
Owaisi said in his address that this bill is a conspiracy to end religious and social institutions of Muslims. He said that the religious properties of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities are protected, but the government wants to seize the assets of Muslim Waqf through this bill. The provisions of this bill are taken away from the Muslim Waqf Board and handing it over to the government, so that these boards will not be able to protect the interests of Muslim society. He argued that the bill violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution as the properties of other religious communities have special protection, but the assets of Muslims are being planned to be taken under government control.
‘Conspiracy to occupy Waqf properties’
Owaisi said in Parliament that with the implementation of this bill, the occupation of Waqf properties will get legal recognition. Giving an example, he said that if a person occupies the Waqf property, the government will implement the Limitation Act on it, which would make the encroachers overnight the legal owner of that property. He called it against the spirit of justice and said that this bill has been designed to benefit the encroachers.
He also alleged that the government is deliberately weakening Muslim Waqf properties to prevent the economic and educational progress of Muslims. He said that the 2007 Sachar Committee report said that the market price of 123 Waqf properties in Delhi was Rs 6000 crore, but now the government is making new laws to grab these properties.
‘Violation of minority rights’
Owaisi accused the government that she wanted to deprive Muslims of their religious rights. He cited Article 25 (Right to Religious Freedom) and Article 26 (Right to conduct religious institutions) and said that through this bill, Muslims are being denied administrative rights on their religious institutions.
He raised the question that if the religious institutions of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhism have the right to conduct their matters themselves, then why is the rights of the Muslim Waqf Board being taken away? He also alleged that the government is targeting Muslim religious places, mosques, madrasas, khankahs and dargahs.
A sharp attack on the government
On presenting data related to the encroachment of Waqf properties by Home Minister Amit Shah, Owaisi questioned that if the government had brought a bill to remove illegal possession in 2014, why was it withdrawn in 2024? He said that “the government itself is retracting its decisions and is propagating falsely.”
Owaisi targeted the BJP leaders and said that when the Waqf Act was passed in 2013, BJP leaders supported it. He asked whether the BJP is now considering the decisions of its own old leaders – Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh – wrong?
Ignore minority community
Owaisi accused the government of discriminating against Muslim members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He said that if a person is from the Scheduled Tribe and is a Muslim, will he be denied his constitutional rights? He called it a violation of Articles 14, 15 and 29 of the Constitution.
Owaisi said that this bill will end the right to judicial appeal in matters related to Waqf properties. He said that usually various tribunals (such as railway tribunals, income tax tribunals) have the right to appeal, but in this bill, the right to appeal in matters related to Waqf properties is being abolished.
He also informed that non-Muslims can also be included in the appointment of Chairman and members of Waqf Board, so that the Waqf Board will not be able to protect the interests of Muslims.
Owaisi’s announcement to tear the bill
At the end of his speech, Owaisi gave the example of Mahatma Gandhi and said that just as Gandhiji stood against racist laws in South Africa and rejected the unjust law, similarly he rejects this bill. He said that this bill is unconstitutional and he is tearing it into Parliament and registering protest. She accused the BJP government that it wants to incite a struggle in the name of temple-mosque in the country by religious polarization. He presented his 10 amendment proposals in Parliament and demanded that the government consider them.