Page 13 - Waqf Board

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi calls for protest against Waqf Ammendment Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for the renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995

BJP's minority wing to seek Muslims' views on Waqf bill, notify parl panel

Amid strident criticism of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by some major Muslim bodies, the BJP's 'Minority Morcha' will rally counterviews in support of reforms in Waqf boards and seek suggestions on the law to present it to the parliamentary committee examining the Bill. Sources said a team of seven BJP members, including state Waqf Board chairpersons, will elicit views of the minority community across the country and assuage their concerns on a host of issues. "We will convey to the committee every point of view. If there is any concern on any aspect of the Bill, we will express it as well. But the need for reforms in Waqf boards is felt by the community everywhere," a BJP leader claimed. They Minority Morcha will share the report with the BJP leadership and the parliamentary panel headed by veteran party MP Jagdambika Pal. The committee members include Shadab Shams, Sanwar Patel and Mohsin Lokhandwala, who head the boards in Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and Haryana Waqf .

Joint Parl panel on Waqf Bill seeks suggestions from experts, stakeholders

The Joint Committee of Parliament scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Friday sought suggestions from stakeholders, experts and other institutions on the proposed law. The bill seeks to reforming the registration process for Waqf properties through a centralised portal. According to a statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the committee led by BJP's Jagdambika Pal has asked for "views/suggestions from the public in general and NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions in particular" considering the "wider implications" of the bill People have been asked to share their suggestions in writing in the next 15 days. The memoranda and suggestions submitted to the committee would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as "confidential", it said. Those who wish to appear before the committee, besides submitting views in writing, have been asked to specifically indicate so in their correspondence. The Bill is the first major initiative from the BJP-

New bill aims to destroy Waqf Board instead of protecting: Owaisi

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday attacked the BJP-led NDA government on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill alleging that the proposed law instead of protecting Waqf properties aims to destroy them. Addressing a press conference here, the Hyderabad MP wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the proposed legislation. "In this bill, instead of protecting Waqf Board and Waqf properties, it is a way of destroying them," Owaisi said, asserting that in this bill there is no provision of protecting Waqf, and accused the BJP of "lying". In the name of protecting Waqf, Narendra Modi and his government are trying to destroy it, he alleged adding that their intention is to destroy it. "A message has gone among the Muslims of the country that Narendra Modi wants to snatch Waqf properties from Muslims. We want the prime minister and the government to think over it and take back the proposed law," Owaisi said. The AIMIM chief also questioned various clauses of the bill, including the mo

Parliament panel on Waqf meets, Oppn MPs oppose proposed amendments

BJP members of the committee appreciated the proposed amendments, particularly the one that seeks to give representation to Muslim women in Waqf boards

First meet of Parliament joint committee panel on Waqf Bill underway

Parliament's Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill met here for the first time on Thursday where officials from the minority affairs and law ministries are briefing them about the various amendments proposed in the draft law. The 31-member committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, has been tasked by the Lok Sabha to scrutinise the contentious bill, which has drawn protests from the opposition parties and Muslim organisations. The representatives from the minority affairs ministry were expected to brief the committee on the "amendments proposed on the Bill", the Lok Sabha secretariat said. The JPC will discuss the bill threadbare and also the concerns over it, Pal said ahead of the meeting, adding that voices of different stakeholders will be heard by the committee "We will discuss all the 44 amendments and bring a good and comprehensive Bill by next session," he said. Pal said the committee will call various Muslim bodies representing different sects to hear their ...

On a shoestring: Waqf wallet shrinks on dwindling property income

This is despite an increase in properties registered under the Waqf

First meeting of Parl joint committee on Waqf Bill to be held on Aug 22

The first meeting of the Parliament's joint committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be held next week. The committee, chaired by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, will meet representatives of the ministries of minority affairs, and law and justice on August 22, a notice from the Lok Sabha secretariat said. The representatives from the minority affairs ministry are also expected to brief the committee on the "amendments proposed on the Bill", the secretariat said. The Bill is the first major initiative from the BJP-led NDA government aimed at reforming the registration process for Waqf properties through a centralised portal. It proposes several reforms, including establishing a Central Waqf Council alongside state Waqf Boards with representation to Muslim women and non-Muslim representatives. A contentious provision of the Bill is the proposal to designate the district collector as the primary authority in determining whether a property is classified as Waqf or government land. The

Imams of Delhi WAQF allege non-payment of salary, demand investigation

Government's substantial grant to the WAQF board has not helped in timely payments for the Imams

Waqf Bill parliamentary review panel to have 31 MPs: Party-wise breakdown

The Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to overhaul the existing Waqf Act by introducing sweeping changes including representation of Muslim women, non-Muslims in the institutions among other measures

Waqf Amendment Bill: 31-member JPC constituted; Owaisi, Masood included

This comes a day after, Kiren Rijiju on Thursday introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee after Opposition parties objected to its provision

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Waqf (Amendment) Bill: Opposition vs Government

On August 8, the Centre introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha. A war of words broke out between opposition MPs and ruling NDA MPs. Watch the video to know who said what.

Govt proposes JPC scrutiny over controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill

Opposition parties have criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution, religious freedoms, and the federal structure of India

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 amendment bill 2024 not anti-Muslim: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan

Janata Dal (U) leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' on Thursday said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was aimed at bringing transparency in the functioning of the Waqf Board and not an attempt to interfere with running of mosques. As opposition leaders opposed the introduction of the bill, the JD(U) leader stood up to speak amid uproar by opposition members. "JD(U) is a party here whether it is opposing or supporting, I have to record my view here," Singh said. Defending the bill, he said, "Several members are making it sound as if the amendment in Waqf Board law is anti-Muslim. How is it anti-Muslim?" "Here example of Ayodhya is being given... Can you not differentiate between a temple and an institution? This is not an attempt to interfere with mosques. This law is for the institution, to make it transparent..." he claimed. "How was the Waqf Board formed? It was through a law. Any institution established through law becomes autocratic. Government has the right to bring

Oppn opposes Waqf Bill; calls it 'draconian, an attack on Constitution'

The opposition on Thursday protested against the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with Congress MP KC Venugopal calling it "draconian" and an "attack on the Constitution". Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, Venugopal -- who had submitted notice to oppose its introduction -- accused the government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it. "This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said. He said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra. Samajawadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said the bill was against freedom of religion. He said appointing non-Muslims in the central Waqf council and other such bodies was violative of the rights of Muslims. Opposing its introduction, Trinamool Congress (T

BJP working like real estate company, says Akhilesh Yadav on Waqf bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is just an excuse to sell land in the interest of BJP members, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday and claimed that the saffron party was working like a real estate company. He also suggested that the BJP rename itself to the "Bharatiya Zameen Party". In a post on X, Yadav said the bill that seeks to amend provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995, were merely an excuse. "The target is to sell defence, railway, Nazul land. Waqf board lands are just another link in the chain of 'schemes for the benefit of BJP members' after defence land, railway land, Nazul land," he said in Hindi. "Why doesn't the BJP openly write: 'Issued in the interest of BJP members'," Yadav added. "A guarantee should be provided in writing that Waqf Board lands will not be sold." Attacking the saffron party, Yadav said the BJP was working like a real estate company. He added, "It should change its name by writing 'zameen (land)' in place of 'janata (people)' -- Bharatiy

Cong, allies oppose Waqf Amendment bill, seek review by standing committee

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is listed for introduction by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha