A bill may be introduced
New Delhi: Modi government is preparing for a big change in the Wakf Board. A bill regarding this can be presented in the current session of the Parliament. The bill is expected to be presented in a day or two. Right now the Wakf Board has unlimited powers. Now there are preparations to reduce its powers.
What is the matter?
Right now the Waqf Board can claim any property but in the new bill, verification of the claims of the Waqf Board will be necessary. There are preparations for about 40 amendments in the Waqf Board, but Muslim religious leaders have started opposing it. Maulana Khalid Rashid has said that the government should take his opinion before taking any step, while AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the BJP government wants to end the Waqf.
Owaisi’s statement came out
On media reports that the central government may bring a bill to take control of the properties of the Waqf Board, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, ‘First of all, when the Parliament session is going on, the central government is acting against parliamentary supremacy and privileges and informing the media and not informing the Parliament. I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to end the autonomy of the Waqf Board and wants to interfere in it. This in itself is against religious freedom.’
Owaisi said, ‘The second thing is that the BJP has been against these boards and Waqf properties from the very beginning and they have a Hindutva agenda. Now if you amend the establishment and structure of the Waqf Board, there will be administrative chaos, the autonomy of the Waqf Board will end and if the government’s control increases on the Waqf Board, the independence of Waqf will be affected. It is written in the media report that if there is a disputed property, these people will say that the property is disputed, we will acquire it, a survey has been done. The survey will be conducted by the BJP, the Chief Minister and you know what will be its result. There are many such dargahs in our India, where the BJP-RSS claims that they are not dargahs and mosques, so the executive is trying to snatch the power of the judiciary.’
What did BJP leader Mohsin Raza say?
On media reports that the central government may bring a bill to take control of Waqf Board properties, BJP leader Mohsin Raza said, “If this bill is brought, we will welcome it. There are lakhs of Waqf properties across the country and people are not getting justice. They (Waqf Board) harass people by going beyond their powers. There are many such properties, many such issues which should come directly to the government.”
Raza said, ‘Waqf was created for the upliftment of backward Muslims and it has not been used properly, it has only been misused. So it is clear that Waqf properties need to be evicted which have come under the control of some people and the properties which are illegally registered with the board should also be evicted. This is a matter of public interest and it should be brought.’
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