On 27 January, a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal had cleared the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Published Mar 17, 2025 | 12:29 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 17, 2025 | 12:29 PM
Asaduddin Owaisi during the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Synopsis: Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi joined the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s protest against Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024.AIMPLB is staging the protest demanding the withdrawal of the bill.
AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi joined the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) protest against Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Monday, 17 March.
AIMPLB is staging the protest demanding the withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is expected to be passed during the ongoing budget session of the Parliament.
“The Waqf Amendment Bill is a conspiracy to spread anarchy in the name of law and to destroy and occupy Waqf property in the name of protection and transparency of Waqf. That is why we demand from the government that it should stop its action and withdraw the bill,” the AIMPLB said.
AIMPLB Vice-President Ubaidullah Azmi emphasised the importance of protecting religious affairs as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Just as prayer and fasting are important for us, protecting Waqf properties is equally crucial. The government should have acted against those encroaching upon Waqf land, but instead, it has introduced a law that enables the government to take control of Waqf properties,” he said.
“India was not accepted based on subordination but on loyalty. This land does not belong to anyone’s ancestors. We have sacrificed for this land, and we will continue to do so.” He warned that if the bill is not repealed, Muslims, under the leadership of the AIMPLB, would be ready to make any sacrifice the nation asks for.
In November last year, the AIMPLB had said that it would legally fight against the bill.
On 27 January, a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal had cleared the Waqf Amendment Bill tabled in the Lok Sabha in August last year.
Ever since the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, Owasi has been raising voices against the provisions in it.
Currently, waqf is managed according to Muslim law. The amendment allows and mandates non-Muslim members in state Waqf Boards and Central Waqf Council.
Critics argue that it creates room for these bodies to majorly comprise non-Muslim members while similar institutions governing Hindu and Sikh endowments primarily comprise members from their respective religions.
“In UP, 95 percent properties of the Waqf are those which were given as per the clause of ‘Waqf by user’. Now as per the Bill, if this clause is removed, then what will be the status of these properties? The parliament has given time till the last day of the Budget session to submit the report. I would like to request our chairman not to submit the report in a hurry. We have not yet heard from the representatives from Kashmir,” Owaisi said earlier.
While clearing the bill, the JPC adopted all amendments proposed by the ruling NDA members while negating the changes suggested by the Opposition.
“The amendments moved by the NDA members in 14 have been accepted,” Pal told the media.
“The Opposition, too, had suggested amendments. We moved each and every one of those amendments and it was put to vote but there were 10 votes supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it,” he added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
