The NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to amend the Waqf Act. Sources told Aaj Tak that on Friday the Cabinet approved a total of 40 amendments to the Waqf Act. After the passage of these amendments, the powers of the Waqf Board will be limited. According to sources, the purpose of these amendments is to restrict the right of the Waqf Board to designate any property as ‘Waqf property’.
Sources said, ‘As per the proposed amendments, all claims made by the Waqf Board on properties will have to undergo mandatory verification. A mandatory verification process is proposed for the properties claimed by the Waqf Board.’ According to sources, the bill for these amendments is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week. The Waqf Board oversees about 870,000 properties spread over about 940,000 acres. In 2013, the UPA government strengthened the authority of the Waqf Board through amendments to the original Waqf Act, 1995.
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The Act was set up to regulate ‘Aukaf’. Property donated by a Waqif and designated as Waqf is called ‘Aukaf’. A Waqif is a person who dedicates property for purposes recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable. The proposed amendments aim to increase inclusiveness by ensuring representation of women in the Central Waqf Council and state boards. Former Uttar Pradesh government minister and BJP leader Mohsin Raza said, ‘The entire country and society demanded that such a law should come. The Waqf Board has misused the 1995 law a lot.’
Will speak after seeing the proposed bill: JDU
Reactions of political parties have also started coming on the proposal of the Central Government to amend the Waqf Act. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that it remains to be seen what is the format of the proposed bill to amend the Waqf Act. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar has taken necessary steps for the management of Waqf property. Hostels, shopping malls and even orphanages have been built on Waqf property. We hope that the Central Government will work on the Waqf model of Bihar.
RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said that the government’s eyes are somewhere else, the target is somewhere else. Targeting a particular religion, raising controversial issues, the current central government adopts these methods so that the real issues are not discussed. JDU and TDP are allies of BJP. Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar should tell what is happening. The country will run by its rules and laws, the opposition is strong.
Intention to snatch Waqf properties: Owaisi
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, ‘This amendment in the Waqf Act is being done with the intention of snatching away Waqf properties. This is an attack on the right to religious freedom given in the Constitution. RSS has always had the intention of snatching away Waqf properties.’ All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said, ‘Our ancestors donated a large part of their property and they made it Waqf under Islamic law. So as far as Waqf law is concerned, it is necessary that the property should be used only for those charitable purposes for which it was donated by our ancestors.
Government should talk to stakeholders: AIMPLB
He said, ‘It is the law that once a property becomes a Waqf, it can neither be sold nor transferred. As far as the management of properties is concerned, we already have the Waqf Act 1995 and then some amendments were made in 2013 and currently, we do not think that any kind of amendment is required in this Waqf Act. If the government feels that there is any need for amendment, then it should first consult the stakeholders and take their opinion. Everyone should keep in mind that about 60% to 70% of the Waqf properties are in the form of mosques, dargahs and graveyards.’
Question on the intention of the government: Irfan Habib
On the possibility of amendment in the Waqf Act, historian and Muslim scholar S Irfan Habib said, ‘The question is on the intention of the government whether it wants to usurp the Waqf lands. If a law is coming, it should be for good. As is being discussed, women should also be a part of it. When the Waqf Board was formed in 1954, its intention was good. People used to transfer their property to Waqf, on which madrasas, Imambaras were built, or other works were done. But there has been a lot of irregularities there too. People of our own religion have done fraud in Waqf lands.’
There should be proper implementation of the law: Maulana Sufiyan
Maulana Sufiyan Nizami said that our elders donated their private property to Waqf so that it could be used for the progress of Muslims. We already have the Waqf Act, the Waqf Board was formed so that the Waqf property could be managed properly. Maulana Nizami said that the government should strengthen the hands of the Waqf Board. The Board’s property should be vacated wherever it is occupied.
He said that if the government possession cannot be vacated, then the rent of that property should be deposited in the Waqf Board. Law is not the solution to any issue. The solution is found only when that law is implemented properly. If the government has any complaint regarding Waqf, who has sold, who has bought and if it has been done illegally, then legal action should be taken on it. Muslims will not have any objection to the action.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)