BJP Leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Calls for Hindu Inclusion in Waqf Bill Discussions
New Delhi, India – Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has stressed the importance of including Hindu stakeholders in the discussions by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to review the Waqf Bill. Speaking today, Naqvi expressed his support for the committee’s first meeting, describing its work as moving in a ‘very positive direction.’
Naqvi highlighted the need for scrutiny of systems like Waqf, especially when constitutional commitments are at stake. He stated that no one should object if the committee addresses ‘unconstitutional chaos’ within the Waqf system and brings it under constitutional compliance. He pointed out that several decisions made by Waqf boards have raised questions over the years, leading to confusion and conflicts.
Naqvi urged the JPC to recognize that stakeholders are not just from the Muslim community but include a significant number of Hindus, especially those displaced during the Partition who still do not have ownership rights over their properties. He called for the JPC to listen to their grievances to ensure justice is served.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, and clearly define ‘Waqf.’ It aims to ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not deny inheritance rights to women and to provide a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, including representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims. The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis and reforms the Tribunal structure.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the bill, stated that the JPC will submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the winter session of Parliament.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi -: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is a senior leader in the BJP and has held various important positions in the government.
Waqf Bill -: The Waqf Bill is a proposed law that deals with properties and assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in Islam.
Joint Parliamentary Committee -: A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is a group of members from both houses of Parliament who come together to discuss and review specific issues or bills.
Partition -: Partition refers to the division of British India into two countries, India and Pakistan, in 1947. It caused a lot of people to move from one country to the other.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 -: This is a new version of the Waqf Bill that aims to update the old law from 1995 and include more people in its discussions.
Minority Affairs Minister -: The Minority Affairs Minister is a government official responsible for looking after the interests of minority communities in India.
Kiren Rijiju -: Kiren Rijiju is a politician who is currently the Minority Affairs Minister in India.
winter session of Parliament -: The winter session of Parliament is a period when members of Parliament meet to discuss and pass laws, usually held in November and December.