"This bill is 'grave violation' of Article 26 of Constitution": Asaduddin Owaisi on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

This remark came after he, along with other opposition MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today to raise their demand for an extension of the Joint Parliament Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Counting the drawbacks of the bill, Owaisi alleged that the government is bringing this bill to eradicate the Waqf Board rather than focusing on its strengthening. He questioned the "intention" of the government behind this bill.

"This law hasn't been made and see what has happened in Sambhal... This bill violates Article 26. This is grave violation of article 26 of the constitution. This bill gives immense power to collector that he can decide that a property will be Waqf property or not. Additionally, on what basis they are making non-Muslim a member"? Owaisi told reporters.

He said, "In other religious boards, the members are from the same community, whether its Christian, SGPC or Hindu cantonment board. Why they compulsorily want to make majority non-Muslims a member of the State Waqf board? Similarly, in Central Waqf Board, they want to make majority non-Muslims a member. Why do they want to do so? What is the intention behind it? This bill is a grave violation of article 26 of the constitution. This bill is not brought to save Waqf, rather it is brought to eradicate it and turn it into just a 'post-office'. The properties of Waqf is not given by the government. This is earning of Muslims which the government wants to snatch..."

Emphasising the demands to for an extension of the Joint Parliament Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the AIMIM chief said that the committee is yet to meet various stakeholders and states.

Owaisi said, "We went. All 11 non-BJP MPs went to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker and he listened to us very patiently. He said that our demands will be considered. We hope that he will extend the tenure as we couldn't go to Bengal, Bihar. We couldn't monitor the properties of Shia Waqf in Uttar Pradesh. We have invite Delhi's ministers too. They are stakeholders too. There are several states where committee should visit."

Earlier on November 21, JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal said that their report is ready and they would hold clause-by-clause discussions on it.

Pal said that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred this bill to the JPC so whatever he would decide they would do the same.

"Our report is ready and we will hold clause-by-clause discussions on it. The opposition here was also saying this (seeking an extension of tenure of JPC)... Any member or Opposition is free to meet the Speaker. They (opposition) have been trying to extend the tenure of the JPC. The Speaker has referred this bill to us, so whatever he decides, we'll do the same," he said.

Since August 22 of this year, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has held several meetings. The JPC reviewed the work of six ministries and around 195 organizations desired to come but 146 were heard across the country. Also around 95 lacs 86 thousand suggestions were received by the secretariat on the Waqf Bill.

It is pertinent to note that The Waqf Act, 1995, which was created to regulate Waqf properties, has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. (ANI)