Lucknow: Security has been tightened across Uttar Pradesh after the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. The bill, presented by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on August 8, 2024, proposes significant changes to the Waqf Act of 1995, leading to concerns and opposition from various quarters, reported the Deccan Herald.
The proposed amendments include renaming the act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995. It also aims to introduce representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf boards and grants District Collectors the authority to determine whether a property is Waqf land or government property.
The bill has sparked widespread criticism, with Congress MP KC Venugopal calling it a “draconian law” and a “fundamental attack on the Constitution.” Several opposition leaders and Muslim organizations have raised concerns over the potential impact of the amendments on Waqf properties and the autonomy of Waqf boards.
In response to the rising tensions, authorities in Uttar Pradesh have implemented stringent security measures, particularly in areas with a significant Muslim population. Additional police forces have been deployed, and officials are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any unrest.
As debates over the bill continue in Parliament, its implications on Waqf properties and minority rights remain a subject of intense discussion.
