Members of some Hindu organisations present views to Waqf Bill committee

AIMIM leader Assadudin Owaisi had earlier written to the panel chairman Jagdambika Pal urging him to withdraw invitation to Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

Those who presented their views included Mahant Sudhirdas Maharaj, Head Priest, Shri Kalaram Temple, Nashik; advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who practice in the Supreme Court of India; advocate Amita Sachdeva, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Goa and Chetan Rajhansa, spokesperson, Sanatan Sanstha, Goa.

Members from opposition parties raised their objection against these invitations and said that calling non-Muslim representatives to discuss issues related to Waqf bill had "no meaning."

Sources said Mahant Sudhirdas Maharaj demanded protectection of the right of 'Mahanubhav Sampraday' and is learnt to have said that a law is needed to protect the lands and properties of the Hindu community.

Sources said Vishnu Shankar Jain sought some changes in law while Ashwini Upadhyay is learnt to have said the Wakf Act 1995 is unconstitutional and is against the basic structure of the constitution.

He is learnt to have said that the Act must be abrogated as it violates some provisions of the Constitution and "a secular law" should be enacted in spirit of the constitutional principles.

Sources said he conveyed that the committee should propose a common law for all religions, keeping in mind that right to property is not a fundamental right and constitutional goals can't be achieved by piecemeal amendment in the Act.

He is learnt to have urged the JPC to recommend to the Centre to repeal some laws related to trust and trustees.

Owaisi had earlier objected to the invitation extended to Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

In an eight-page letter to Jagtambika Pal, the Chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament, Owaisi conveyed his "disappointment and protest" at the invitation extended to the two organisations.

"Such invitations and their participation shall have a direct bearing on the sanctity of discussions undertaken by JPCs," he said, alleging that they are "extremist organisations".

Opposition MPs, who were part of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting held on Monday on Waqf Bill, walked out over allegations made by Anwar Manippady, former Chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation.

According to the MPs, Manippady deviated from the agenda of the meeting and made a series of allegations against the Karnataka Government and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The MPs said that the allegations were irrelevant and unacceptable.

The MPs expressed dismay over Manippady's remarks, alleging that his comments were "politically motivated" and violated the mandate of the Joint Parliamentary Committee set up to examine the Waqf Bill.

"We have boycotted because the committee is not functioning with the principles and norms of the committee. Ethically and principally they are wrong. This meeting is not a platform for settling political scores," said Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant.

"Anwar Manippady's focus should have been on Waqf Bill, but instead, he used this forum to level baseless accusations against our party leadership and Karnataka's government. We can't accept this type of act in JPC meetings," said an MP from the Congress, who wished to remain anonymous.

Sources said Manippady, who has served vice president and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, made "serious allegations about the mismanagement" of Waqf properties during the Congress regime.

He claimed that a vast land scam was unfolding under the guise of Waqf land administration, pointing fingers at both government officials and politicians.

Manippady presented what he described as evidence of "looting" Waqf properties in Karnataka, alleging that much of the revenue generated "was being siphoned off by corrupt officials".

"Waqf institutions lease out these properties at nominal rates and a large portion of the proceeds--nearly 80 per cent--is pocketed by individuals ranging from Mutawallis (custodians) to Waqf Board officers and political leaders," he claimed.

Sources said he provided examples of prime lands, leased for paltry sums, that were being used for commercial projects such as five-star hotels, colleges, and medical institutions, all of which he alleged were generating crores of rupees while Waqf institutions received only a fraction of the income.

"These leases and sales are illegal," he said referring to a court judgment.

Manippady, in his presentation, named several high-profile Congress leaders allegedly involved in the misuse of Waqf properties.

Manippady claimed that that even after years of investigations and reports, the offences related to Waqf properties continue unabated, referring to the findings of his earlier "Anwar Manippady Scam Report," which he had submitted to the Karnataka government more than a decade ago.

He emphasized that the land heist involved not only politicians but also officials from the Waqf Board.

However, opposition MPs dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and argued that Manippady's position as a former BJP office-bearer raised questions on the credibility of his remarks and it is an attempt to malign the Congress.

As per sources, Opposition MPs will also approach to the Lok Sabha Speaker to discuss the working style of the Committee..

Manippady also urged the Muslim minority community not to resist the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, arguing that reforms were necessary to prevent "further fraud" and ensure that Waqf assets genuinely benefit the community.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms concerning illegally occupied properties.

The committee has been asked to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the next parliament session. (ANI)