The controversial Waqf Amendment Bill is poised to ignite fierce debates as the Budget session of the Indian Parliament approaches. This follows dissent notes submitted by eleven opposition members of the Parliamentary Committee after the panel approved the ambitious amendments on December 29, 2024. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, adopted the bill alongside 14 amendments proposed by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but conspicuously rejected 44 amendments tabled by opposition representatives.
The tension around the Waqf Bill has escalated significantly since the Uttar Pradesh government informed the JPC about their findings during field investigations. The state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted, "While the Waqf Board claims to own 1.27 lakh properties, only 7,000 have been validated as legitimate upon scrutiny." His remarks, indicating the potential for public property to revert to the Revenue Department, suggest a government strategy aimed at diminishing the Waqf Board's control over such properties. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh officials have initiated verification of Waqf Board properties, reinforcing worries among the Muslim community.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has condemned the JPC's maneuvers, alleging breaches of democratic principles. AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas pointed out, "We sent over 36 million emails opposing the proposed amendments, but our voices were disregarded. The JPC has suppressed the constitutional rights of Muslims.”
Introduced on August 28, 2024, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, pushing for changes to the composition and authority of the Waqf Council and Boards. The revised act proposes to rename the law as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act. Notably, it alters the requirement for the Central Waqf Council members by introducing two non-Muslims to the panel—changes seen by many as detrimental.
Opposition members have expressed grave concerns over the amendments, especially Clause 9's contentious requirement for non-Muslim members. They argue such stipulations go against the very essence of waqf’s religious foundation. “These amendments are not in the interest of waqf. They will destroy the Waqf Board,” stated All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Assaduddin Owaisi. The opposition argues these modifications lead toward state control over religious affairs, infringing upon minority rights—a sentiment echoed by other opposition leaders.
Critics have labeled the JPC's approval process as flawed and arbitrary, denouncing the committee’s failure to incorporate their amendments. Congress MP Naseer Hussain remarked, “These changes are engineered to subdue minorities,” and parliamentary meetings have reportedly been tumultuous, with incidents prompting the suspension of opposition members.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People’s Democratic Party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, recently reached out to political allies of the NDA, urging them to oppose the amended law. She stated, "The proposed Waqf amendment bill arrives at a time when Muslims have been systematically disenfranchised and marginalized politically, socially, and economically." She characterized the consultation process around the amendments as disingenuous, calling it a farce as the government failed to engage with the affected communities meaningfully.
The impending parliamentary discussions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill signal potential confrontations, as opposition parties continue to take firm positions against the legislation. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has defended the bill, claiming it aims to introduce transparency and prevent the misuse of waqf provisions. Yet, with opposition sentiments boiling over, the ruling alliance appears unyielding—bent on pushing through what they argue is much-needed reform.
Mufti's criticisms extend beyond legal amendments; she decries the bill as emblematic of broader themes of majoritarian oppression, remarking, “This deeply divisive bill embodies the systematic disenfranchisement of Muslims since 2014.”
This growing contention within the Parliament, marked by solidarity among opposition members and significant community pushback, paints the Waqf Amendment Bill as more than just legislative tweaks. It embodies the struggle over constitutional rights, minority representation, and the fabric of Indian democracy itself.
With the Budget session kicking off, all eyes will be on Parliament as the ruling party and opposition gear up for what promises to be decisive confrontations around the Waqf Amendment Bill—an issue encapsulating decades of communal dynamics and the quest for power.