The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, on Thursday, August 8. After this, major Muslim organizations of the country have targeted it and have requested the government to withdraw the proposed amendments and hold detailed discussions with all stakeholders including religious leaders.
Both factions of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Arshad Madani and Mahmood Madani) have condemned the bill and expressed serious concern over the proposed law. Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani claimed that the government wants to change the status of Waqf properties, making it easier to occupy them.
‘Collector Raj will come into existence
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Maulana Arshad Madani said, “After the new amendment is passed, Collector Raj will come into existence and the decision of the Wakf Tribunal will not be final as to which property is Wakf and which is not. The Collector’s decision regarding ownership will be final.”
He further said that earlier this right was with the Wakf Tribunal. The proposed amendment in the Wakf Act is also against the religious freedom given by the Constitution and is a violation of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution.
‘Ever since this government has come
Maulana Arshad Madani alleged that ever since this government came to power, it has been bringing such new laws to keep Muslims in ‘fear’. The proposed law is a blatant interference in the religious matters of Muslims.
In his statement, he said that Jamiat wants to make it clear that we will never accept any such change in the Waqf Act, 2013, which changes or weakens the status of Waqf properties. Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind has always taken effective steps to ensure the security of Waqf properties and even today we are moving forward with the resolution that the Muslims of India will be against every plan of the government, which does not guarantee the security of Waqf properties.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, head of the other faction of Jamiat, expressed deep concern over the proposed amendments in the Waqf Act and said that the amendments introduced in the Parliament are detrimental to the protection of Waqf properties. These amendments will allow government bodies to intervene unnecessarily, weaken the basic status of Waqf and violate the concept of divine ownership.
He further said that the proposal to abolish Section 40 of the Wakf Act and empower district collectors to resolve issues and disputes relating to ownership and possession of wakf properties under revenue laws instead of wakf tribunals amounted to “nullifying the wakf board itself”.
Mahmood Madani urged the government to withdraw the proposed amendments and hold discussions with all stakeholders, including religious leaders and Waqf management bodies.
‘Unacceptable for the Muslim community
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president Syed Sadatullah Hussaini also criticised the Waqf Bill, saying it is unacceptable to the Muslim community. We oppose the amendments proposed by the government to the Waqf Act, 1995. The proposed changes are aimed at reducing the autonomy and integrity of Waqf properties and the communities they serve. This is not acceptable to the Muslim community.
He alleged that the amendments were inspired by old colonial laws that made the collector the final authority, thereby infringing the rights of Muslims to manage their religious endowments.
‘Many Waqf properties are occupied
Mufti Mohammad Qasim, Imam of Masjid Anglo-Arabic at Ajmeri Gate, said that many Waqf properties have been encroached upon and if the government wants to help the community, it should first vacate such properties from illegal occupation.
‘Muslims are being targeted
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and referred to a joint parliamentary panel after a heated debate. The government said the proposed law was not intended to interfere in the functioning of mosques, while the opposition called it targeting Muslims and an attack on the Constitution.
At the same time, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that he will talk to the leaders of all the parties for the formation of a joint parliamentary committee.
Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought permission to introduce the bill, opposition INDIA Bloc MPs strongly opposed the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it an “attack” on the Constitution and saying it targets Muslims.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)