New Delhi/Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced in Parliament today for debate and passage. The bill, which proposes changes in the administration of Muslim charitable properties, has sparked strong opposition from non-NDA parties, including the DMK, which have united to block it.
The Opposition has called the bill unconstitutional, arguing that it violates fundamental rights, including Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination based on religion). Several Muslim groups have also opposed the amendments, alleging that they aim to bring Waqf properties under government control. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has already passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the bill.
Stalin: Bill Threatens Religious Autonomy
In his letter to PM Modi, Stalin stressed that the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to practice their religion freely and that elected governments must uphold this right. However, he argued that the bill fails to respect this principle and will severely impact the Muslim community.
Highlighting key concerns, Stalin pointed out provisions that interfere with the autonomy of Waqf Boards, including:
- The mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards.
- The removal of the ‘Waqf by User’ provision, which could jeopardize historical Waqf properties.
- The restriction that only individuals who have practiced Islam for at least five years can donate property to Waqf, which Stalin says will prevent non-Muslims from contributing and hinder India’s syncretic culture.
The government, however, maintains that the bill is aimed at empowering women and children, particularly widows, divorcees, and orphans. The amendments propose that funds received by Waqf Boards must be used for their welfare under government oversight.
Kiren Rijiju Defends the Bill
In the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed concerns over religious interference, stating, “The government has nothing to do with religious sentiments… The role of Waqf Boards is to manage Waqf properties. This is purely a governance and supervision issue.”
Rijiju further claimed that previous laws allowed arbitrary declaration of Waqf properties, which led to misuse. “Any land could be declared as Waqf property earlier. This was exploited to such an extent that the number of Waqf properties skyrocketed to lakhs,” he said.
Citing specific cases, Rijiju alleged that temples and gurdwaras were falsely declared as Waqf land, including:
- Surendereshwar Temple in Tamil Nadu
- Thousands of acres in Karnataka
- A Sikh gurdwara in Haryana
As the debate over the Waqf Amendment Bill intensifies, the Centre remains firm on its stance, while the Opposition continues its efforts to block the legislation, setting the stage for a fierce political showdown in Parliament.
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