New Delhi:

A joint parliamentary committee has voted in favour of 14 alterations to the draft version of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which had been tabled in the Lok Sabha in August last year and seeks to make 44 contentious changes to the way Muslim charitable properties are managed in the country.

The 14 alternations include distinguishing between the mandatory two non-Muslim members – as specified in the original draft of the bill – and nominated ex-officio members (Muslim or non-Muslim).

This means waqf councils, whether at state or pan-India levels, will have at least two, and possibly more (if the nominated ex-officio members are also not Muslim) members not from the Islamic faith.

Another key change is directing an officer nominated by the concerned state to determine if a property is ‘waqf’. In the original draft this decision was left to the District Collector.

A third change is establishing that the law will not apply retrospectively, so long as the property in question is already registered. To this point, Congress leader and JPC member Imran Masood raised a red flag, noting an estimated 90 per cent of waqf properties are not, in fact, registered.

READ | Waqf Amendment Bill Cleared By JPC, 14 Amendments Approved

These changes, and the 11 others, were proposed by members from the ruling BJP, including Lok Sabha MPs Nishikant Dubey, Tejasvi Surya and Aparajita Sarangi.

Among the other 11 is a change – put forward by Mr Surya – specifying that anybody wishing to donate land must “show or demonstrate that she/he is practicing Islam for at least five years” and also acknowledge “…there is no contrivance involved in the dedication of such property”.

Overall, MPs from the ruling party and those allied to it made 23 proposals to alter the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. MPs from the opposition made 44 proposals, none of which were accepted.

NDTV Explains | Women, Non-Muslims, Council Can’t Claim Land: Waqf Changes

But the opposition’s proposals were rejected by a 10:16 vote after committee members voted on party lines; the JPC has 16 MPs from the BJP or allied parties and only 10 from the opposition.

Voting to confirm acceptance of the 14 changes will take place January 29, and the final report will be submitted by January 31, sources told NDTV.

The committee had originally been asked to file the report by November 29 but that deadline was extended to February 13, the final day of the Budget Session.

Changes to the Waqf laws, sources told NDTV earlier, are meant to empower Muslim women who “suffered” under the old law. However, critics, including Trinamool leader Kalyan Banerjee, and AIMIM boss Asaduddin Owaisi (both JPC members), have called it a “direct attack on freedom of religion”.

READ | Opposition Targets Non-Muslims Provision In “Draconian” Waqf Bill

Mr Owaisi and the DMK’s Kanimozhi, meanwhile, also have argued it violates multiple sections of the Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one’s choice) and Article 30 (the right to minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions).

The 1995 Wakf Act was passed to regulate ‘auqaf’ (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a ‘wakif’ (the person who dedicates the property). The legislation was last amended in 2013.

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New Delhi:

Ten opposition MPs have been suspended – including the Trinamool’s Kalyan Banerjee, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, and A Raja of the DMK have been suspended for the day from the joint parliamentary committee studying proposed changes to 44 sections of the Waqf Act of 1955.

The suspensions followed ruckus in the JPC hearing Friday.

The day’s meeting began on a stormy note; opposition MPs shouted down proceedings, saying they were not being given enough time to study the changes suggested to the Waqf laws.

This was before the JPC was to hear from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir’s religious head.

But that was delayed after opposition MPs accused others on the committee – specifically those from the ruling BJP – of rushing the bill through in time for next month’s Delhi election.

The heated arguments that followed forced brief adjournment, and the delegation led by the Mirwaiz appeared after the committee reconvened. But the peace didn’t last long.

Mr Banerjee and the Congress’ Naseer Hussain then stormed out, complaining the committee and its proceedings had become a “farce”. The BJP’s Nishikant Dubey called their conduct “against Parliamentary practice” and said they were trying to suppress the majority.

Behind them, as the hearing continued, the Mirwaiz told the committee he could not support the proposed changes to the Waqf laws as they meant the government was interfering in religious matters.

“We hope our suggestions will be heard and (be) acted upon, and no such step will be taken that could make Muslims feel like they are being disempowered,” he said.

“The issue of Waqf is a very serious matter, especially for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as it is a Muslim-majority state. Many people have concerns regarding this (and) we want the government to refrain from interfering in Waqf matters,” he told the committee.

Meetings of this committee have seen mud-slinging and even physical brawls since it was set up in August last year; in October, for example, Mr Banerjee had a ‘Hulk’ moment, smashing a glass bottle on the table and throwing it at the BJP’s Jagadambika Pal, the committee Chair.

READ | Trinamool MP Explains ‘Hulk’ Moment During Waqf Bill Meeting

He later explained his actions, saying another BJP MP, ex-Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay flung verbal abuses at his family and provoked that strong reaction.

The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes numerous changes to the way Waqf boards are administered, including nominating non-Muslim and (at least two) women members.

NDTV Explains | Women, Non-Muslims, Council Can’t Claim Land: Waqf Changes

Also, the central Waqf Council must (if the amendments are passed) include a union minister and three MPs, as also two ex-judges, four people of ‘national repute’, and senior government officials, none of whom need be from the Islamic faith. Further, the Council can’t claim land.

Other proposed changes are to limit donations from Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years (a provision that triggered a row over the term ‘practicing Muslim’.

Sources told NDTV the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who “suffered” under the old law. However, critics of the proposed changes, including opposition leaders like the Congress’ KC Venugopal, have said it constitutes a “direct attack on freedom of religion”.

READ | Opposition Targets Non-Muslims Provision In “Draconian” Waqf Bill

Mr Owaisi and the DMK’s Kanimozhi, meanwhile, have argued it violates multiple sections of the Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one’s choice) and Article 30 (the right to minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions).

The committee had originally been asked to submit its report by November 29 but that deadline has since been extended – to the final day of Parliament’s Budget Session, which ends Feb 13.

READ | After Opposition, BJP MP Seeks Extension For Panel On Waqf Bill

The extension had been sought by both the opposition and the BJP.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP Thursday morning over proposed amendments to 44 sections of the Waqf Act of 1995, declaring the Bill a pretext to profit from sale of Waqf-owned lands and that the ruling outfit should rename itself ‘Bharatiya Zameen (land) Party’.

Mr Yadav’s sarcastic swipe came hours before Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tables the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act in the Lok Sabha.

The proposed amendments will change 44 sections of the older legislation, including allowing non-Muslims and Muslim women to be named to central and state Waqf bodies. Among other major proposed changes are omission of Section 40 from the existing law, which allows the Board to classify properties; this means it can, under current rules, declare any of its properties as Waqf.

“All these amendments… are just an excuse. Selling land (owned by) Defence Ministry, Railways, and Nazul land (i.e., land inherited from the colonial British government) is the target. Waqf Board lands are just another link in the chain of ‘schemes for the benefit of BJP’…” Mr Yadav said in Hindi on X.

‘वक़्फ़ बोर्ड’ का ये सब संशोधन भी बस एक बहाना है
रक्षा, रेल, नज़ूल लैंड की तरह ज़मीन बेचना निशाना है

वक़्फ़ बोर्ड की ज़मीनें, डिफ़ेंस लैंड, रेल लैंड, नज़ूल लैंड के बाद ‘भाजपाइयों के लाभार्थ योजना’ की शृंखला की एक और कड़ी मात्र हैं। भाजपा क्यों नहीं खुलकर लिख देती : ‘भाजपाई-हित… pic.twitter.com/VwK3YyWAG5

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 8, 2024

“Why doesn’t BJP openly write: ‘Issued in interest of BJP’? BJP is working like a real estate company. It should change its name by adding ‘Zameen’ instead of ‘Janta’: Bhartiya Zameen Party.”

Mr Yadav called for a “written guarantee that Waqf Board lands will not be sold”.

Waqf Boards across India own nearly eight lakh acres, making it the largest private land-owning organisation. The Defence Ministry and the Railways have more, but they are government-owned.

The proposal to alter the Waqf Act has been heavily criticised by the opposition and some members of the Muslim community, and fiery protests are likely when the amendments are tabled later today.

Earlier today, Congress MPs KC Venugopal and Hibi Eden filed notices to oppose introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav’s party will also oppose the Bill.

NDTV Explains | Non-Muslims On Boards, Council Can’t Claim Land: Waqf Changes

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has given notice to oppose the amendments, claiming it is against rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including freedom to practice religion. “The amendments are discriminatory and arbitrary, and are a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constitution as it violates principle of judicial independence and separation of powers,” Mr Owaisi said.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board said changes “will not be tolerated”. Spokesman SQR Ilyas said the government wants to change the status of Waqf properties so “possession is easier”. Also, the Tamil Nadu Board chief told NDTV called it a ploy to “weaken” and “destabilise” such organisations.

READ | ”No Need For Amendment”: Tamil Nadu Waqf Board On Centre’s Move

The government, however, has dismissed such claims.

Sources told NDTV the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who “suffered” under the old law. The objective, sources declared, is also to curb illegal occupancy of by Waqf boards.

READ | Waqf Law Change To Help Women, Say Government Sources

Sources also claimed a “dangerous narrative” is being manufactured by certain Muslim clerics who are making wild statements that their land will be snatched

The government, meanwhile, also wants the passage of the bill to be “inclusive” exercise, and is willing to send the amendments to a joint committee for further study, sources said.

The 1995 Wakf Act was passed to regulate ‘auqaf‘ (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a ‘wakif’ (the person who dedicates the property). The legislation was last amended in 2013.

With input from agencies

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