Waqf board bill based on Congress appointed panel's suggestions: Union min

Waqf board bill row: Congress-led INDIA bloc has opposed the bill, labelling it as an 'attack on the federal system' and urged the Centre to refer it to a standing committee for consultations

Waqf board bill controversy: Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday lashed out at the Congress party for opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 introduced by the Centre in Lok Sabha, noting that the bill is based on the report of the Sachar committee, which was appointed during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government-led by Manmohan Singh.

“..This bill being brought today is based on the report of the Sachar committee (which called for reform) which you made (Congress)...,” Rjiju said as he moved the bill for consideration in the lower house. He assured that the bill does not interfere with the freedom of any religious body. 

Sachar panel was a high-level committee appointed to deliberate on the socio-economic status of the Muslim community of India. The panel, headed by (retd.) Justice Rajindar Sachar, submitted its report in 2006. The panel’s report, available on the Minority Affairs Ministry website, calls for provisions such as representation of women, advisory body for the development of Waqf properties, and their financial audit, among other amendments in the central and state boards.

Following criticism from the Opposition, the bill was referred to a joint parliamentary panel for further scrutiny on Thursday evening.

Why is the INDIA bloc opposing the Waqf board bill?

Earlier today, the Congress-led INDIA bloc opposed the bill, labelling it as an "attack on the federal system” and called it “anti-Muslim.”

In response, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' had asserted that the bill does not interfere with the mosques but aims to regulate the institution and so, cannot be labelled anti-Muslim. 

Akhilesh Yadav opposes Waqf board bill 

Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav also opposed the bill vehemently. NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule had urged the Centre to first send the bill to a standing committee for consultations. “Please do not push agendas…” she said. Meanwhile, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the bill saying that it is against Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution.

The bill has been proposed to overhaul the existing Waqf Act, 1995, by introducing new provisions, including its renaming to Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

One of the most highlighted aspects of the bill is that it seeks to omit Section 40 of the existing law, which deals with the powers of a Waqf Board to decide if a property is Waqf property.

The draft law also has provisions for wider representation, including of women and non-Muslims, in the bill.