Vijayawada: Amid ongoing nationwide protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and NDA ally Chandrababu Naidu assured the Muslim community that his government would safeguard Waqf properties in the state. However, he refrained from directly addressing the controversial Bill during his speech.
Speaking at an Iftar event hosted by the state government in Vijayawada on March 27, Naidu highlighted his administration’s efforts in reviving the Waqf Board, which had become defunct under the previous YSR Congress Party government.
“I assure that our government will protect the Waqf Board’s properties. We will uphold communal harmony and support the economic progress of Muslim families. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will always stand with Muslims,” Naidu stated.
He also announced an increase in the honorarium for Imams to ₹10,000 and for Muezzins to ₹5,000.
Despite these assurances, several Muslim organizations boycotted Naidu’s Iftar gathering in response to the Union government’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill, following a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). The Bill has drawn criticism for allegedly centralizing control over Waqf properties, thereby diminishing the authority of state and national Waqf boards.
AIMPLB urged a boycott of government-hosted Iftar events across Andhra Pradesh, demanding that the TDP prove its commitment by pressuring the BJP-led Union government to withdraw the Bill.
Muslim organizations are planning a large-scale protest in Vijayawada on April 2, calling on the TDP to take a firm stand against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
In December 2024, the Naidu-led government dissolved the Waqf Board appointed by the previous YSRCP administration, citing prolonged inactivity. The government justified the move as necessary for ensuring good governance, protecting Waqf properties, and restoring the Board’s functionality. TDP leader Abdul Aziz was subsequently elected as the new State Waqf Board Chairman.
