The BJP-led NDA government on Thursday introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha to amend the Waqf Act, 1995.
The bill, tabled by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was met with huge criticism from the opposition MPs.
Congress MP KC Venugopal termed the bill a "fundamental attack on the Constitution and direct attack on right to religion."
“We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system,” Venugopal said.
Earlier, Venugopal and Congress MP Hibi Eden had given a notice to prevent the introduction of the bill in the parliament.
Eden said in his notice that he opposes the presentation of the bill as it is "unconstitutional" and cited that it is in conflict with the Right to Property (Article 300A), the PTI reported quoting sources.
The Bill can potentially infringe on the property rights of individuals and religious institutions without adequate legal safeguards, he argued.
Eden also contended that the bill is an infringement on the Fundamental Right of Religious Freedom under Article 25, the sources said.
AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi came down heavily on BJP for introducing the bill and called it "an enemy of Muslims" in the country.
“You (the BJP) is diving the nation… you are the enemy of Muslims,” Owaisi said.
“It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” he said.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the bill is introduced in favor of the vested interests of BJP.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is just an excuse to sell land in the interest of BJP members,” he said.
DMK MP Kanimozhi called the bill a direct violation of the Constitution. She said the bill targets a "particular religious group."
“It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group,” Kanimozhi said.
Samajawadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said the bill was against freedom of religion. Appointing non-Muslims in the central Waqf council and other such bodies was violative of the rights of Muslims, he added.
Karti Chidambaram (Congress) argued that the motives of the government is "sinister."
"I think we will be opposing this bill and there's been no wider consultation with stakeholders and we think it should be referred to the Standing Committee before it's brought to passing in the House," ANI reported him as saying.
However, Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju defended the bill and said it does not interfere with the freedom of any religious body.
“With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body….Forget about taking anyone’s rights, this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them,” he said.
He also accused the opposition of trying to mislead the public about the intentions of the bill.
“Opposition is trying to mislead people about intention of Waqf bill. No law can be above Constitution but 1995 Waqf law has such provisions,” he said.
"I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldn't," he said.\
He further informed that the bill is being sent to a Parliamentary Committee for review.
The bill seeks to curb the powers of the Waqf Boards, by mandating verification of land by a government authority before the board declares it a waqf property.
According to its statement of objects and reasons, the bill seeks to omit Section 40 of the current law, robbing off the powers of the board to decide if a property is Waqf property. It also pushes for representation of non-Muslims and Muslim women in the board.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board of Auqaf for the Boharas and Aghakhanis. The draft law provides for the representation of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, Agakhanis and other backward classes among Muslim communities.
