Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has strongly opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw it, citing concerns over its impact on minority rights, reported the New Indian Express.
In a letter to the prime minister, Stalin argued that the proposed amendments undermine constitutional protections for religious minorities and could severely harm the Muslim community. He pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had recently passed a unanimous resolution demanding the bill’s withdrawal.
Stalin warned that the amendments would weaken the authority of Waqf Boards, dilute religious autonomy, and threaten the protection of Waqf properties. He specifically criticized provisions such as the inclusion of non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards and restrictions on property donations, which he said would interfere with the Muslim community’s ability to manage religious and charitable endowments independently.
He urged the prime minister to personally intervene and ensure the bill’s withdrawal, emphasizing that the existing Waqf Act, 1995, already provides adequate safeguards for Waqf properties.
