The controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, recently introduced by the NDA government in the Lok Sabha, is turning out to be the first political flashpoint between the BJP and its key ally Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh.
The Muslim leaders in the TDP have raised objections over several provisions of the bill, which has since been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), and argued that the legislation would amount to an infringement on the autonomy and independence of the Wakf Boards in the country.
With Muslims accounting for 12-13% of the state’s population, the TDP, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, would find it difficult to support the legislation for fear of antagonising the minority community. Muslims, largely concentrated in the Rayalaseema region of the state, form a significant vote bank of the regional party and had played a crucial role in ensuring a landslide victory in the recent Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
The TDP’s minority-wing leaders sought wider consultations with all the stakeholders, especially Muslim religious organisations, before going ahead with the legislation.
“Very soon, we are going to meet one of the members of the JPC and Guntur MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayulu, to apprise him about our objections and concerns with the bill,” the TDP minority cell state general secretary Muhammad Fathullah said.
Describing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, as harmful, he credited his party supremo Chandrababu Naidu for sending the bill to JPC. Coincidentally, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu is the chairman of the TDP parliamentary party.
"Our leader (Chandrababu Naidu) has made significant efforts to send the Wakf Board Amendment Bill to the JPC, despite being part of the NDA coalition, ” he said.
Implementing the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, Fathullah warned, would weaken the Waqf Board, which holds some of the largest assets in India.
He argued that any amendments should strengthen, not undermine, the institution. “The bill proposes the cancellation of the Waqf Survey Commission, transferring its powers to collectors, which are potentially biased and detrimental to the protection of Waqf assets.
This will lead to 'Collector Raj' . There is also no specification that two women who would be part of the national body are Muslims,” added Fathullah.
The TDP's Muslim leader also criticised the bill’s provision to include non-Muslims in the State Wakf Board Committee and the removal of the requirement for the Waqf Board CEO to be a Muslim. He demanded a reassessment of these provisions and an amendment to the bill that fortifies the Waqf Board.
He urged that the Waqf Board Amendment Bill be reviewed with consultations from Muslim intellectuals and major Muslim organisations such as the Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tablighi Jamaat, Ahle Hadis, Deoband, and Barelvi organisations.
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