Why is politics around Waqf Act?
Why is politics around Waqf Act?
It’s not something new, but a well known fact that whenever a government or court attempts to introduce legal reform in subjects related to Muslims, a section of politicians or parties always impede and politicise it for vote-bank politics.
To cite a case, from the Shah Bano case to the Triple Talak bill, they opposed the initiatives.
Some political parties always support Waqf members to woo Muslim voters
A strong whirr is doing the rounds that the government may introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 law governing Waqf boards to ensure more accountability and transparency in their functioning and mandatory inclusion of women in these bodies. Sources claim that the move comes in the backdrop of demands from within the Muslim community. The amendment bill will make it mandatory for Waqf boards to register their properties with district collectors to ensure their actual valuation.
The sources also add that there are 30 Waqf boards in the country which cares for properties worth of crores and the revenue generated by all Waqf properties estimated at Rs 200 crore per annum. They also assert there is a huge irregularity within the boards.
Waqf Boards are the organisation established in every state under the Waqf Act 1995, for the management of Waqf properties in that State/UT. The Waqf Board deals with the religious, social and economic life of Muslims. They are not only supporting mosques, dargah, graveyards, etc but many of them support schools, colleges, hospitals, dispensaries and musafirkhanas, meant for social welfare. There are 30 Waqf Boards in India, and most of them are headquarters in Delhi.
As per the UP Sunni Waqf Board website, the term “Waqf” denotes an endowment which is to be used exclusively for the purposes acknowledged under Islamic Law as pious, religious or charitable. Such an endowment which usually is a property, is managed by an administrator called mutawalli. The term ‘Mutawalli’ includes, a committee of management.
Former minority affairs minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Waqf system has to come out of the “touch-me-not” syndrome, and articulated that a “communal attack on inclusive reforms” isn’t right.
In a post in Hindi on X, Naqvi wrote that the Waqf system will have to rise from the madness of ‘touch-me-not’ syndrome-politics.” He also made it known that “communal assault on inclusive reforms is not right”.
Many Muslim organisations, clerics and politicians opposed the proposed amendments to the Wakf Act. According to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) any interference with the legal status and the powers of Waqf boards will never be tolerated.
As per AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas in a statement, the board appeals to all Muslims and their religious and Milli organisations to unite against this “malicious act of the government and the board will initiate all kinds of legal and democratic measures to thwart this move.
Members of Waqf Boards hold significant influence over voters from Muslim communities and these members are directly or indirectly connected with political parties. Congress, the Samajwadi Party, AIMIMI, TMC and other regional parties which toe the line of secularism always oppose the move to any legal reform in the subjects related to the Muslim community. The same kind of criticism emerged when the Centre introduced the Triple Talaq Bill to end the discriminatory tradition against women. The AIMPLB urged allies of the ruling NDA and opposition parties to “completely reject any such move” and to not to allow such amendments to be passed in Parliament.
Centre wants to take away the autonomy of Waqf Boards
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIMI) chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre wants to take away the autonomy of Waqf Boards. The BJP has been against Waqf boards and Waqf properties “from the beginning” and it has made attempts to finish these as per its “Hindutva agenda.
Ilyas added that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board deems it necessary to make it clear that any amendments in the Wakf Act, 2013 which alters the nature of Waqf properties or makes it easier for the government or any individual to usurp the same will in no way be acceptable
According to AIMPLB, Waqf properties are donations made by Muslim philanthropists dedicated to religious and charitable purposes, and the government has only enacted the Wakf Act to regulate them.
Shariat Application Act, 1937 protects Waqf boards and the
Wakf Act and Waqf properties are protected by the Constitution of India and the Shariat Application Act, 1937. Hence, the government cannot make any amendment that would change and alter the nature and status of these properties.
News Edit K.V.Raman
