Hyderabad Member of Parliament (MP) Asaduddin Owaisi strongly condemned the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, during a heated debate in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, labeling the proposed legislation as discriminatory and divisive. Owaisi, who leads the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of enacting a law that, in his view, targets the Muslim community and violates the core principles of the Indian Constitution.
“This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution. This bill is both discriminatory and arbitrary,” Owaisi declared in his address to the House. He argued that by introducing this bill, the Modi government was sowing division rather than fostering unity. “By bringing this bill, you [the Central government] are doing the work of dividing the nation, not uniting it. This bill is an evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims,” Owaisi said, emphasizing the deep mistrust that the legislation has sparked among the Muslim community.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The bill seeks to amend the existing Waqf Act of 1995, proposing significant changes aimed at addressing issues related to the powers and functions of State Waqf Boards, the Central Waqf Council, the registration and survey of Waqf properties, and the removal of encroachments on Waqf land. The government has argued that the amendments are necessary to make the management of Waqf properties more transparent and efficient.
However, opposition parties, including those in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc—comprising the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—have voiced strong opposition to the bill. They contend that several provisions in the proposed amendments undermine the autonomy of Waqf boards and dilute the representation of Muslims in bodies that have traditionally been entrusted with managing Waqf properties.
One of the most contentious aspects of the bill is the proposal to grant increased powers to district collectors, including the authority to intervene in Waqf matters. Additionally, the bill suggests the inclusion of non-Muslims on State Waqf Boards (SWBs) and the Central Waqf Council (CWC), a move that opposition members argue could erode the religious and cultural integrity of these institutions. The proposal to include non-Muslims on these boards has been met with particular concern, as it represents a significant departure from the existing framework where Waqf bodies have been exclusively managed by members of the Muslim community.
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Another major point of contention is the bill’s provision to ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf bodies. While the inclusion of Muslim women has been broadly welcomed as a progressive step, the opposition argues that the inclusion of non-Muslims could lead to potential conflicts of interest and a dilution of the boards’ traditional roles.
In response to these concerns, opposition parties have demanded that the bill be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for thorough scrutiny before it is passed. They argue that such a significant piece of legislation, which affects the rights and properties of a religious minority, deserves careful examination and debate.
Despite these objections, the government has indicated that it will assess the overall sentiment in the Lok Sabha before deciding on the next steps. The Business Advisory Committee has been briefed, and a decision on whether to send the bill to committee for further review is expected soon.
As the debate over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, continues, it has become clear that the proposed changes have ignited deep concerns among the Muslim community and opposition parties. The bill’s passage, or its potential referral to a committee, will likely have significant implications for the future governance of Waqf properties in India and the relationship between the Muslim community and the central government.
