Several opposition leaders on Monday alleged that the BJP-led government plans to introduce a bill amending the Wakf Act to create societal divisions, vowing to oppose the legislation strongly.
Conversely, BJP leaders defended the imminent move, asserting that the Modi government seeks to ensure transparency in every sphere.
The proposed bill to amend the Wakf Act, 1995, if introduced and passed, will mandate Waqf boards to register their properties with district collectors to ascertain their actual valuation. There are 30 Waqf boards in India.
Sources on Sunday highlighted that the annual revenue generated by all Waqf properties is estimated at Rs 200 crore, which they claimed does not align with the number of properties these bodies hold.
The government is poised to present a bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 law governing the Waqf boards, aiming to enhance accountability and transparency in their operations and ensure the mandatory inclusion of women in these bodies, sources said on Sunday.
They claimed that the move follows demands from within the Muslim community.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that his party would oppose the Centre's move to amend the 1995 law governing Waqf boards, accusing the BJP of attempting to deprive Muslims of their rights.
"We will be against it (Wakf Act amendment bill)," Yadav told reporters, accusing the BJP of seeking to divide Hindus and Muslims and to strip Muslims of their constitutional rights. He made these remarks after paying tributes to late MP and party leader Janeshwar Mishra on his birth anniversary in Lucknow.
IUML's E.T. Mohammed Basheer labelled the government's move as ill-intentioned.
"A committee was appointed under K. Rahman Khan, and the BJP wanted to control Waqf properties. They want to take custody of the Waqf properties. If such legislation comes, we will strongly oppose it and consult like-minded parties," he told reporters outside Parliament.
Basheer added that if the government proceeds with the bill, it should be prepared for strong opposition.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the BJP-led government of using the Waqf issue to divert attention from budget discussions.
"Until it is tabled in Parliament, I would not like to comment," she added.
CPI(M) MP Amra Ram accused the BJP of engaging in divisive politics and interfering with Waqf boards instead of strengthening them.
"Instead of providing education and employment to minorities, they have always attacked their rights. We condemn this. If they continue with this divisive rhetoric, we showed them a trailer in 2024 and will now show them the full movie," he said.
Another CPI(M) MP, Sudama Prasad, said the BJP-led government’s only intention is to promote a divisive agenda.
"Bring a bill to deal with unemployment. But they are 24x7 focused on a divisive agenda like mandir-masjid and Hindustan-Pakistan," he said.
JMM's Mahua Maji stressed the importance of considering all perspectives if any amendments are to be made, urging against a one-sided approach.
BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat welcomed the amendment, citing internal conflicts and misuse of properties within Waqf boards.
"I have experienced it myself that there are intense internal conflicts in the Waqf boards and their properties are being misused. Those who are powerful in the Muslim community are misusing the properties," he told reporters outside Parliament.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal stated that the Modi government operates with transparency, implying that only "scamsters" would object to such measures.
Samajwadi Party MP from Faizabad, Awadhesh Prasad, said the party would review the bill’s intentions and content before commenting.
SP MP Zia ur Rahman Barq criticised the NDA government’s approach, comparing it to the farm bills which he claimed were not in the farmers' interests.
"If their intention was clear, they should have spoken to the intellectuals of the community. But their intentions are not right, and they want to take control of the Waqf boards and suppress the Muslim community," he said.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday alleged that the NDA government aims to strip the Waqf Board of its autonomy.
The BJP has opposed Waqf boards and properties "from the beginning," Owaisi claimed, suggesting that the move aligns with its "Hindutva agenda."
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday declared that any interference with the legal status and powers of the Waqf boards would be intolerable.
AIMPLB urged NDA allies and opposition parties to "completely reject any such move" and prevent such amendments from passing in Parliament.
AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas called for unity among Muslims and their religious organisations against what he described as the government’s "malicious act."
The board would take all necessary legal and democratic measures to counter this move, he said in a statement.
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