Dawoodi Bohra Delegation Thanks PM Modi for Waqf Amendment Act, Cites Long-Pending Demand

New Delhi: A delegation from the Dawoodi Bohra community met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and expressed gratitude for the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The community leaders stated that the amendment fulfilled a long-standing demand and marked a crucial step toward preserving their unique identity and religious autonomy.

The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was also present during the interaction.

During the conversation, the delegation reaffirmed their faith in the Prime Minister’s inclusive governance model of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.” They lauded the government’s responsiveness to minority concerns and recognized the amendment as a gesture of respect for their constitutional and religious rights.

Earlier, during the consultations held by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the Dawoodi Bohra community had urged complete exclusion from the purview of the Act. They argued that the community, being a distinct sub-minority within the Shia sect, should be exempted to protect their traditional practices and religious administration under the al-Dai al-Mutlaq.

Citing a Supreme Court ruling that identified them as a “religious denomination” under Article 26 of the Constitution, the delegation emphasized their constitutional right to manage their religious affairs independently.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has stirred national debate around the control and management of waqf properties, with several groups, including the Dawoodi Bohras, seeking legal clarity and protection of their distinctive traditions.