"The amendments are unacceptable": Mirwaiz Umar Farooq opposes proposed amendments to Waqf Act

Amid a huge ruckus, all the Opposition MPs who were part of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, were suspended from the meeting.

Additionally, officials said that the next meeting of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is scheduled to be held on January 27.

Mirwaiz Farooq was leading a delegation of Ulemas from Jammu and Kashmir, who were in consultation with religious leaders from Leh and Kargil.

Speaking to ANI, Farooq said, "I was leading a delegation of the Ulemas of J&K and we are also in consultation with the Ulemas of Leh and Kargil. They have given us full support and authority to speak on their behalf... What we are saying is that the amendments which are proposed to the Waqf Act are unacceptable to the people of J&K."

Farooq expressed concerns that the amendments would disempower the Muslim community in the region and undermine their rights. "We believe that these amendments are not in the interests of Muslims of the region. This is an attempt to disempower the Muslim community as far as their rights are concerned," he added.

He further said that the government should engage in more consultations before making a decision. "I think the government should not unilaterally take a decision on this. We were expecting the delegation to come to Kashmir and meet the people so that they come to know what kind of reservations people have," he said.

Mirwaiz Farooq also criticised the JPC's approach, citing the suspension of the opposition members protesting during the meeting. He stressed that the consultation process was incomplete, pointing out that "there are many issues which we feel that the JPC has not taken into consideration."

However, he clarified that the Ulema's opposition was not against strengthening the Waqf, but against amendments that could harm its purpose. "We are not against any amendments or any suggestions which will strengthen the working of the Waqf. We want it to be accountable, we want it to be result-oriented, and we want it to be beneficial for the community," he concluded.

Meanwhile, responding to the allegations rushing the JPC proceedings ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, Jagdambika Pal, chairman of the JPC on the Waqf, said that it was Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju who urged the speaker to refer the bill to JPC and not the opposition.

"If the government wanted to hasten things, why would it refer the bill to JPC? The government has a majority in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The opposition didn't, but Kiren Rijiju, after introducing it in the Parliament, himself urged the speaker to refer the bill to JPC," Pal said, adding, "Mirwaiz and his delegation expressed their concerns and raised objections to certain sections (of the bill). This shows that the parliamentary democracy in the country is being strengthened."

The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to submit its report during the Budget session, with the committee's term extended during the winter session of Parliament.

The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.

The Budget session of Parliament will commence on January 31 and continue till April 4, with the Union Budget to be presented on February 1.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. (ANI)