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‘Opposition misleading Muslims …’: Govt defends proposed changes in Waqf Act; Congress links it to assembly elections | India News
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed sharp exchanges between the government and the opposition as Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to “correct the wrongs done by the Congress in the past.” The government justified the proposed amendments and said it aimed to empower the marginalised groups within the Muslim community, but the opposition called the Bill “discriminatory and arbitrary” and linked it to the year-end assembly elections in some states.
The Bill, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, seeks to “effectively address” issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. Rijiju also introduced a Bill to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. Its statement of objects and reasons stated that the colonial-era legislation has become outdated and inadequate for effective management of Waqf property in modern India.
Introducing the Bill, Rijiju said “It is my good fortune that being non-Muslim, I am getting opportunity to bring a Bill for welfare of Muslims.” The Bill was later referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for wider consultations.
The Union minister accused the opposition of misleading the Muslims and claimed that there were many within the opposition ranks who support the Bill but are silent due to their party’s stand on the issue.
“They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims. Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me. Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they support the bill but can’t say it due to their political parties. I will not take anyone’s name so that their political career is not ruined,” Rijiju said.
The Union minister asserted that the government had held multi-layered country-wide consultations before introducing the Bill.
“We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill. All the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs started the discussion. A discussion was held with common Muslims in 2023. At that time a meeting was held in Mumbai and suggestions were made as to what should be done to improve the State Waqf Board. In the Lucknow meeting, discussions were held with the top-level people of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the common people were also heard. They all said that this amendment is needed,” Rijiju said.
The Union minister asserted that no provision of the proposed Bill interfered with the freedom of any religion, nor did it violate any article of the Constitution.
However, the opposition was not convinced as it called it a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution.
Congress MP K C Venugopal accused the government of violating the right to freedom of religion and claimed the legislation was being brought with an eye on the upcoming assembly polls. He said people had taught the BJP a lesson — in Lok Sabha polls — for its divisive politics but the saffron party is continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Maharashtra. “It is a direct attack on freedom of religion … Next you will go for Christians, then Jains,” he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the Bill was being introduced to appease the BJP’s hardcore supporters. “What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this is not done in other religious bodies?” Yadav asked.
“The truth is that the BJP has brought this Bill to appease its hardcore supporters,” the Kannauj MP said, adding that it was brought with an eye on the polls.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule said her party opposed the Bill as it was against a particular minority community. “Look at what is happening in Bangladesh, there is so much pain. It is the moral duty of a country to protect minorities,” she said.
“The government should clarify the intent and the timing of the Bill. We object, withdraw this Bill. Let’s discuss it and then bring a Bill that is fair and just,” she demanded.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the House did not have the competence to make the amendments. “It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” he said. “You are enemies of Muslims and this Bill is evidence of that,” Owaisi said.
However, Rijiju strongly refuted all opposition objections and justified the proposed amendments.
The Union minister said in the earlier law, there was no provision to challenge or review the order or judgement of the tribunal. Now, provision was being made for verdicts to be challenged at higher courts, the minister said.
“In our country, no law can be a super law and that can’t be above the Constitution. However, in the 1995 Wakf Act, there are provisions that are above the provisions in the Constitution. Shouldn’t that be changed?” he asked.
“The wrongs which you have done, now, we are correcting those,” Rijiju said, hitting out at the Congress.
To justify the need for reforms in old law, the Union minister cited cases when an entire village in Tamil Nadu was declared Waqf land. Similarly, the Surat municipal corporation headquarters was declared Waqf property, he said and asked how is this possible.
(With inputs from agencies)
The Bill, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, seeks to “effectively address” issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments. Rijiju also introduced a Bill to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. Its statement of objects and reasons stated that the colonial-era legislation has become outdated and inadequate for effective management of Waqf property in modern India.
Introducing the Bill, Rijiju said “It is my good fortune that being non-Muslim, I am getting opportunity to bring a Bill for welfare of Muslims.” The Bill was later referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for wider consultations.
The Union minister accused the opposition of misleading the Muslims and claimed that there were many within the opposition ranks who support the Bill but are silent due to their party’s stand on the issue.
“They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims. Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me. Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they support the bill but can’t say it due to their political parties. I will not take anyone’s name so that their political career is not ruined,” Rijiju said.
The Union minister asserted that the government had held multi-layered country-wide consultations before introducing the Bill.
“We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill. All the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs started the discussion. A discussion was held with common Muslims in 2023. At that time a meeting was held in Mumbai and suggestions were made as to what should be done to improve the State Waqf Board. In the Lucknow meeting, discussions were held with the top-level people of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the common people were also heard. They all said that this amendment is needed,” Rijiju said.
The Union minister asserted that no provision of the proposed Bill interfered with the freedom of any religion, nor did it violate any article of the Constitution.
However, the opposition was not convinced as it called it a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution.
Congress MP K C Venugopal accused the government of violating the right to freedom of religion and claimed the legislation was being brought with an eye on the upcoming assembly polls. He said people had taught the BJP a lesson — in Lok Sabha polls — for its divisive politics but the saffron party is continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Maharashtra. “It is a direct attack on freedom of religion … Next you will go for Christians, then Jains,” he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the Bill was being introduced to appease the BJP’s hardcore supporters. “What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this is not done in other religious bodies?” Yadav asked.
“The truth is that the BJP has brought this Bill to appease its hardcore supporters,” the Kannauj MP said, adding that it was brought with an eye on the polls.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule said her party opposed the Bill as it was against a particular minority community. “Look at what is happening in Bangladesh, there is so much pain. It is the moral duty of a country to protect minorities,” she said.
“The government should clarify the intent and the timing of the Bill. We object, withdraw this Bill. Let’s discuss it and then bring a Bill that is fair and just,” she demanded.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the House did not have the competence to make the amendments. “It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” he said. “You are enemies of Muslims and this Bill is evidence of that,” Owaisi said.
However, Rijiju strongly refuted all opposition objections and justified the proposed amendments.
The Union minister said in the earlier law, there was no provision to challenge or review the order or judgement of the tribunal. Now, provision was being made for verdicts to be challenged at higher courts, the minister said.
“In our country, no law can be a super law and that can’t be above the Constitution. However, in the 1995 Wakf Act, there are provisions that are above the provisions in the Constitution. Shouldn’t that be changed?” he asked.
“The wrongs which you have done, now, we are correcting those,” Rijiju said, hitting out at the Congress.
To justify the need for reforms in old law, the Union minister cited cases when an entire village in Tamil Nadu was declared Waqf land. Similarly, the Surat municipal corporation headquarters was declared Waqf property, he said and asked how is this possible.
(With inputs from agencies)
