TDP has proposed three major changes by way of amendments in the bill. Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu submitted the suggestions on behalf of the TDP.
Published Apr 02, 2025 | 10:29 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 02, 2025 | 10:29 AM
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (X)
Synopsis: The TDP in Andhra Pradesh has proposed multiple amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 expected to be passed in the Lok Sabha. The regional party is expected to make the point that the appointment of non-Muslims on the Waqf Board should be left to each state government.
Despite being an ally of the NDA, the TDP in Andhra Pradesh appears to have managed not to antagonise the Muslim community completely proposing multiple amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 expected to be passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 2 April.
TDP has proposed three major changes by way of amendments in the bill. Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu submitted the suggestions on behalf of the TDP.
The party asked the Union government to insert a clause to make the waqf by user properties registered before the passage of the bill continue as waqf by user properties unless involved in any legal disputes. He demanded the clause be inserted in the bill where it mentions that a person could donate properties to the Waqf Board only if he/she has been practising Islam for at least five years.
The party has also demanded that the deadline for registering waqf properties be extended from six months after the passage of the bill to a period deemed appropriate by the authorities, in cases where applications are made by any Mutawalli and the authorities are satisfied with the reasons for not filing the details within the specified time.
“That in Clause 4 at page 3 of the Bill, after newly proposed Section 3B(1), following proviso be inserted: ‘Provided that Tribunal may, on an application made to it by the Mutawalli, extend the period of six months under this section for such period as it may consider appropriate if he satisfies the Tribunal that he had sufficient cause for not filing the details of the waqf on the portal within such period.'”
It also demanded an amendment granting a “designated officer” the power to designate properties as waqf or government-owned, replacing the term “Collector” with “designated officer”.
According to the sources, during the course of discussions on the bill on Wednesday, the regional party would make the point that the appointment of non-Muslims on the Waqf Board should be left to each state government.
The appointment of non-Muslims to the Waqf board is one of the major issues highlighted by those opposing the bill, including the AIMIM and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
TDP leaders claimed that it was the party that asked the ruling BJP to not pass the amendment directly but send it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) review.
It said it has held extensive Muslim consultations, including the one in Visakhapatnam with over 10000 people belonging to various Muslim organisations to get their feedback.
Meanwhile, the Opposition YSRCP while opposing the bill has chosen not to submit any amendments. There is no clarity on what the party MPs would do when the bill comes up for voting. In the past, YSRCP has not voted against any key legislations concerning Muslims, including the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB).
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
