New Delhi, Aug 23: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday announced that key allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have assured Muslim bodies that they will oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, reported The Wire. This bill, which was recently referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), has faced mounting resistance due to concerns about its impact on the management of waqf properties.
AIMPLB President Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, speaking at a joint press conference with other Muslim leaders, disclosed that meetings had been held with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who both confirmed their intention to oppose the bill. Rahmani emphasized that this opposition transcends religious lines, stating, “This is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. We hope that all parties, including those allied with the BJP, will work in the interest of secularism.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to streamline the administration and management of waqf properties, particularly concerning inheritance rights for women. However, it has drawn criticism for omitting Section 40, which allows waqf boards to determine whether a property qualifies as waqf property, and for proposing the district collector as the arbitrator in disputes over waqf property status. The bill also seeks to alter the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state waqf boards to include Muslim women and non-Muslims and proposes establishing a separate ‘Board of Auqaf’ for Bohras and Aghakhanis.
The bill’s introduction in the Lok Sabha sparked opposition from members of the INDIA alliance, though BJP allies JD(U) and TDP had initially supported its referral to the JPC. Meanwhile, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP V. Vijayasai Reddy expressed his opposition to the bill during the JPC’s first meeting, aligning with his party’s stance under the leadership of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He plans to submit a dissent note to formally record his objections.
Muslim leaders at the press conference, including representatives from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, and others, voiced their concerns over the government’s handling of the bill. They urged secular political parties and opposition members of the NDA to prevent the bill from passing in its current form. AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R Ilyas warned that Muslim bodies would explore “all legal, political, and democratic options” if necessary, including the possibility of nationwide protests.
As the JPC continues its review, the AIMPLB has yet to receive an official invitation to participate in discussions. Rahmani reiterated the Muslim community’s willingness to engage in dialogue but stressed that the bill, as it stands, remains unacceptable.
