Congress Leader Naseem Khan Opposes Changes to Waqf Board Act
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 4: Congress leader Naseem Khan has voiced strong opposition to the central government’s plans to amend the Waqf Board Act. He emphasized that ‘Once a Waqf, always a Waqf’ and stated that any changes to the Act would not be tolerated.
The central government is considering 32-40 amendments to the Waqf Act, which was first passed in 1954 and later revised in 1995 and 2013. These amendments could potentially limit the powers of the Waqf Board and require properties to be registered with the District Collector’s office for evaluation.
Some sources claim that the amendments aim to address issues of corruption and lack of transparency within the Waqf Board. They also propose to include women’s representation on the Central Waqf Council and state boards, and allow appeals against Waqf Board decisions in high courts.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the government, alleging that the amendments would undermine the autonomy of the Waqf Board and infringe on religious freedom. On the other hand, BJP leaders Shazia Ilmi and Mohsin Raza supported the amendments, citing the need to curb corruption and misuse of Waqf properties.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali urged the government to consult stakeholders before making any changes. Meanwhile, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organization, supported the amendments, stating that they are necessary and should not be politicized.
Doubts Revealed
Congress -: Congress is a major political party in India. It has been one of the oldest and most influential parties in the country.
Naseem Khan -: Naseem Khan is a leader from the Congress party. He is known for his work and opinions on various issues in India.
Waqf Board Act -: The Waqf Board Act is a law in India that manages properties and assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in the Muslim community.
Amendments -: Amendments are changes or additions made to a law or document to improve or update it.
Corruption -: Corruption means dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people like government officials.
Transparency -: Transparency means being open and clear about what is happening, so everyone knows the truth.
AIMIM -: AIMIM stands for All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen. It is a political party in India that mainly represents the interests of the Muslim community.
Asaduddin Owaisi -: Asaduddin Owaisi is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the AIMIM party. He is known for speaking on issues affecting Muslims in India.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is another major political party in India, often seen as the main rival to the Congress party.
Shazia Ilmi -: Shazia Ilmi is a leader from the BJP party. She is known for her views and work in Indian politics.
Mohsin Raza -: Mohsin Raza is also a leader from the BJP party. He works on various issues and represents the party’s views.
Stakeholders -: Stakeholders are people or groups who have an interest or concern in something, like a law or project. They are affected by the decisions made about it.