Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th August. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the BJP Thursday morning over the proposed amendments to 44 sections of the Waqf Act of 1995. Yadav accused the ruling party of using the Bill as a pretext to profit from the sale of Waqf-owned lands and sarcastically suggested that the BJP rename itself as the ‘Bharatiya Zameen (land) Party’.
Yadav’s critique came hours before Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was scheduled to table the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act in the Lok Sabha. The proposed amendments, which will alter 44 sections of the existing legislation, include provisions allowing non-Muslims and Muslim women to be appointed to central and state Waqf bodies. A significant change involves the omission of Section 40, which currently permits the Waqf Board to classify properties, allowing it to declare any of its properties as Waqf.
“All these amendments… are just an excuse. Selling land (owned by) Defence Ministry, Railways, and Nazul land (i.e., land inherited from the colonial British government) is the target. Waqf Board lands are just another link in the chain of ‘schemes for the benefit of BJP’…” Yadav said in Hindi on X (formerly Twitter).
“Why doesn’t BJP openly write: ‘Issued in interest of BJP’? BJP is working like a real estate company. It should change its name by adding ‘Zameen’ instead of ‘Janta’: Bhartiya Zameen Party,” he added, calling for a written guarantee that Waqf Board lands will not be sold.
Waqf Boards across India own nearly eight lakh acres, making them the largest private land-owning organization. The Defence Ministry and the Railways own more, but they are government entities.
The proposed amendments have sparked intense opposition from various quarters. Congress MPs KC Venugopal and Hibi Eden have filed notices to oppose the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav’s party also plans to oppose the Bill.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has expressed strong opposition, claiming the amendments violate constitutional rights, including the freedom to practice religion. “The amendments are discriminatory and arbitrary, and are a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as they violate the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” Owaisi stated.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other prominent Muslim leaders have also voiced their disapproval. SQR Ilyas, the board’s spokesperson, stated that the changes are intended to make possession of Waqf properties easier for the government. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board chief described the amendments as a ploy to “weaken” and “destabilize” Waqf organizations.
The government has dismissed these allegations, asserting that the amendments aim to empower Muslim women and curb illegal occupancy by Waqf boards. Sources indicate that the government is open to further study of the amendments by a joint committee to ensure an inclusive process.
Conclusion
The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act of 1995 have ignited a significant political debate, with Akhilesh Yadav leading the opposition by accusing the BJP of using the Bill as a pretext to sell Waqf-owned lands for profit. His sarcastic suggestion to rename the BJP as the ‘Bharatiya Zameen Party’ underscores his criticism of the ruling party’s alleged intentions.
These amendments, which include allowing non-Muslims and Muslim women to be appointed to Waqf boards and removing the Board’s power to classify properties, have faced staunch opposition from various political parties and Muslim organizations. Critics argue that the changes are a direct attack on the rights and independence of the Waqf institutions and the Muslim community.
The government, however, maintains that the amendments aim to empower Muslim women and address issues of illegal occupancy. By proposing to send the amendments to a joint committee, the government signals its willingness for an inclusive and thorough review process.
As the Bill heads to the Lok Sabha, it promises to be a contentious issue, reflecting deeper concerns about land ownership, religious rights, and the role of the government in managing religious properties. The outcome of this debate will likely have significant implications for the future governance of Waqf properties in India.
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