Chennai: K. Nawaskani, Tamil Nadu Waqf Board chairman and MP from Ramanathapuram, said the new Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to grab Waqf properties and weaken Waqf boards financially. He warned that the bill poses a serious threat to Waqf properties nationwide, with northern states likely to suffer the most.
Speaking to the media at the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board office, he accused the BJP of spreading lies about Waqf boards and their functioning. He said the BJP-led central government is giving false information about Waqf operations to the public.
Nawaskani stressed that Waqf institutions do not occupy others’ land. He said BJP leaders are misrepresenting facts just to defend the bill.
Referring to widespread encroachments, he asked, “Why would Waqfs take private land when many of our own properties are encroached? We lack funds to even develop what we have.” He said that out of 1.27 lakh Waqf properties in Tamil Nadu, around 30,000 are encroached.
He pointed out that the new bill cuts the Waqfs’ contribution to state boards from 7% to 5%, while forcing each board to give 1% to the central Waqf council. He said this will severely damage the functioning of state boards.
He mentioned the Tamil Nadu government gives the board an annual grant of Rs 2.5 crore.
Nawaskani added that the BJP government has no plans to develop Waqf properties. “If they had good intentions, where are their development plans?” he asked.
On the Tiruchendurai land issue in Tiruchy, he said the board found the original record listed the 389 acres as Waqf land. But decades ago, the collector resumed it and gave pattas. In a 2022 meeting, the board passed a resolution to allow smooth property registrations in the village. He confirmed the board has no claim over that land now.
He repeated that northern states will face worse effects under the bill. Most of these states are BJP-ruled, and their approach to Waqf is negative. He noted that UP’s Yogi government issued a circular on this just after the bill passed.
