Jagdambika Pal Assures Waqf Properties Will Stay Under Waqf Control Amidst Amendment Bill Concerns
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 27: Days after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) called for the immediate withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal assured that Waqf properties will remain under Waqf control and the government will not acquire any Waqf property.
Jagdambika Pal, who heads the Joint Parliamentary Committee, stated that the committee is considering all suggestions and concerns regarding the bill. A comprehensive report will be prepared and presented by the next parliamentary session.
“The government has brought a bill for a better administration of Waqf property… There have been amendments and a Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed. We are calling everyone and listening to their concerns related to the bill. We will prepare a report and submit it in the first week of the next session,” Pal said.
In response to mounting opposition concerns about the government’s seizure of Waqf properties, Pal reiterated, “I want to reiterate that Waqf properties will remain under Waqf control. The government will not acquire any Waqf property.”
Pal also met Former Union Minister of Minority Affairs and former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K Rehman to discuss issues related to the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
Earlier on August 25, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns over the bill, stating, “In chapter 11 of Structure Committee, there’s a mention of Waqf properties, in which 6 states have been mentioned where the government has taken over the Waqf properties. In Delhi, the government has taken over 200 properties of Waqf. The Modi government is trying to eliminate ‘Waqf by user’…The government is saying to register all the properties through deeds covered under Waqf… If we do not bring the deeds, then registration will not be done. Therefore, the government will take over those properties. Waqf properties are private properties and not public properties. These were not given to us by the government but our Muslim brothers gave this for charity. How can you treat it like a public property?”
On the issue of electing non-Muslim members to the Waqf board, Owaisi said, “The Modi government wants to appoint non-Muslim members. Now listen carefully, in UP, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act of 1983 states that only Hindu members are eligible to be part of the board. It also says, if a Hindu member is not eligible, then another Hindu will take their place.”
The Joint Parliamentary Committee, comprising 31 members–21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha–has been tasked with thoroughly examining the bill. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced during the budget session of Parliament. The government has stated that the amendments are necessary to streamline the functioning of Waqf properties and ensure better governance. Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns about potential overreach and the implications for the autonomy of Waqf institutions.
Doubts Revealed
Jagdambika Pal -: Jagdambika Pal is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. He is involved in making laws and decisions for the country.
Waqf Properties -: Waqf properties are lands or buildings given for religious or charitable purposes in Islam. They are managed by a Waqf board.
Waqf Control -: Waqf control means that the Waqf board, which is a group of people, manages and takes care of these properties.
Amendment Bill -: An amendment bill is a proposal to change or add something to an existing law. In this case, it is about changing the rules for Waqf properties.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. These are people elected to make laws and decisions for the country.
Joint Parliamentary Committee -: A Joint Parliamentary Committee is a group of MPs from different parties who come together to discuss and review important issues or bills.
AIMIM -: AIMIM stands for All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, which is a political party in India that focuses on the rights and issues of Muslims.
Asaduddin Owaisi -: Asaduddin Owaisi is the leader of the AIMIM party. He speaks up for the concerns of Muslims in India.
Government Overreach -: Government overreach means the government is trying to control too much or interfere in areas it shouldn’t.
Non-Muslim Members -: Non-Muslim members are people who do not follow Islam. The concern is about appointing such people to the Waqf board, which traditionally manages Islamic properties.
Streamline -: Streamline means to make something simpler and more efficient. The bill aims to make managing Waqf properties easier and better organized.
