Owaisi sarcastically stated that he is sure the government will appoint Bilkis Bano and Zakhiya Zafri as board members.
Published Aug 08, 2024 | 4:06 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2024 | 8:30 PM
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi strongly criticised the centre on Thursday, 8 August, for introducing the Waqf amendment bill in the Lok Sabha.
Noting that he has given a notice under rule 72 to oppose the amendment bill, he stated, “The house doesn’t have the competence to make the amendments. This bill patent violates Articles 14, 15 and 25. It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers.”
He further claimed that the Waqf management of the properties is an essential religious practice for a Muslim, and by denying the legal recognition government has severely restricted how Muslims can manage their Waqf property.
According to its statement of objects and reasons, the bill seeks to omit Section 40 of the current law relating to the powers of the board to decide if a property is Waqf property.
One of its objectives is streamlining the manner of registration of Waqfs through a central portal and database. A detailed procedure is established for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as a Waqf property.
The bill also aims to clearly define “‘Waqf’ as Waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property”.
Responding to the said clause, Owaisi questioned, “If someone comes and says they have not practised Islam for five years, who will decide, sir?” Further raising the issue of new converts, he asked, if they have to wait for five years to give his property to Waqf. “Isn’t that a violation to the right to freedom of religion?”
Owaisi criticized the bill for allowing non-Muslims to become members of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, yet restricting their ability to dedicate Waqf properties. Claiming that Waqf properties are not public properties, Owaisi said, “By removing Waqf properties, the government aims to take control of important religious sites like Dargahs and Masjids.”
Further questioning the government’s claim of allowing women to be members of the Waqf board, Owaisi sarcastically stated that he is sure the government will appoint Bilkis Bano and Zakhiya Zafri as board members.
Bilkis Bano and Zakhiya Zafri are the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, that happened when Prime Minister Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Owaisi concluded his speech by stating that the government is an enemy to the Muslims, and the bill is being introduced to divide the country.
Responding to objections raised by several opposition members on the introduction of the bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill does not intend to interfere with the freedom of any religious body and that no provision of the Constitution has been violated.
He said the Waqf Act 1995 did not serve its purpose, hence the amendment was planned. “I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldn’t,” he said.
Defending the amendments, Rijiju said a joint parliamentary committee had recommended that Waqf Act 1995 should be re-looked.
He said the opposition was opposing for the sake of politics.
The Wakf Act, 1995, was brought to regulate ‘Auqaf’ (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a ‘wakif’ (the person who dedicates a property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as religious or charitable).
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
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