The Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party, a key constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, is doing a tight-rope walk on the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, as it seeks to strike a balance between honouring coalition dharma and retaining the traditional support base among Muslims.
On one hand, the party has been using every forum to assure the Muslim community that it would do everything to protect the Waqf properties while on the other it has not explicitly opposed the controversial provisions of the bill for fear of antagonising the BJP.
Participating in an iftar dinner in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reiterated his commitment to the welfare of minorities and highlighted his government’s initiatives like the establishment of Urdu universities and Muslim finance corporation.
He recalled the Telugu Desam Party’s past initiatives for Muslim welfare, dating back to the tenure of party founder late NT Rama Rao, who established the first-ever Finance Corporation for Muslims. Naidu further noted that in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh, the TDP had established an Urdu University in Hyderabad, and another in Kurnool after the state’s bifurcation.
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The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is currently awaiting passage in the Parliament. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 8 August, 2024, and later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for review. The JPC submitted its report to both Houses on 13 February, 2025, and the Union Cabinet approved the bill, incorporating the committee’s recommendations, on 19 February, 2025.
The bill is now set to be debated and passed by Parliament.
A major point of contention among Muslims is the bill’s provision to transfer certain powers from Waqf tribunals to district collectors. The community fears that this could lead to excessive bureaucratic control, increasing the risk of encroachments and mismanagement of Waqf properties.
This apart, Muslim organisations have expressed concerns about the amendment mandating the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in state Waqf boards and the removal of the requirement for the Waqf Board CEO to be a Muslim. They argue that non-Muslim members may lack the necessary understanding of Islamic customs and traditions to manage Waqf affairs effectively.
Another contentious issue is the replacement of two Muslim Members of Parliament in the Central Wakf Council with two women members, without specifying their religious background. Many fear that the absence of a stipulation ensuring Muslim representation could impact the council’s efficiency and relevance.
Fathullah Mohammad, General Secretary of the TDP’s minority cell, has raised serious concerns about the bill in the past, asserting that nearly 40 sections could be detrimental to both the Muslim community and the functioning of Waqf boards.
However, the TDP has not revealed its official stand on provisions allowing non-Muslims to be part of state Waqf boards and permitting non-Muslims to serve as CEOs.
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