“Parliament Braces for Clash Over Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024”

“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up for debate in Lok Sabha, has come under fire as the Opposition labels it unconstitutional and divisive. The bill seeks sweeping reforms in the management of Waqf property, changing the functioning of Waqf boards and providing greater powers to the Centre.”

New Delhi : The Lok Sabha is ready for a fiery debate on Wednesday when the Centre and the Opposition will clash over the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The bill to amend the management and administration of Waqf properties in India has prompted party leaders to issue whips to MPs to be present for the eight-hour long key discussion.

What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to overcome regulatory issues in handling Waqf properties, enhance governance, and update the management of Waqf boards. As per the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the main amendments are:

• Renaming the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.
• Modernizing definitions pertaining to Waqf properties.
• Strengthening representation by making Muslim women and non-Muslims members of Waqf boards.
• Limiting the power of the Waqf Board to decide whether a property is Waqf.
• Permitting the Central Government to oversee registration, financial audit, and management of Waqf matters.
• Enabling the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) to audit Waqf properties.

Waqf is properties held solely for religious or charitable reasons under Islamic law, with title deemed irrevocable. India possesses the world’s largest Waqf holding, accounting for 8.7 lakh properties over 9.4 lakh acres and ranking as the third-largest landowner in the country after Indian Railways and the Armed Forces.

Why is the Opposition Rejecting the Bill?

Opposition parties, headed by the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar group), and AAP, have severely criticized the bill as “unconstitutional and divisive.”

The major issues raised are:

• Diluting Waqf Boards by allowing district collectors to decide if a property is Waqf.
• Disregarding opposition suggestions in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
• Stripping government properties tagged as Waqf.

Congress leader Khaleequr Rahman charged that the BJP is attempting to “bulldoze” the bill without taking on board opposition suggestions. Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala threatened that any attempt to “de-establish” a specific community would be resisted strongly.

A High-Stakes Debate

With the bill scheduled to come up for table today, intense debates and likely disruptions are being expected in Parliament. While the Centre claims the amendments will result in more effective governance of Waqf affairs, the Opposition believes it would dilute Waqf board 

The next few hours would show if the government manages to pass the law or encounters opposition resistance in unified fashion.