OPINION | Who is afraid of Waqf Amendment Bill?

All India Muslim Personal Law Board has declared an all-out war against the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is expected to be passed by Parliament in the ongoing Budget session. Several mainstream opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, NCP, Muslim League, AIMIM, and Left Front, joined a protest held in Delhi on Monday by AIMPLB. Muslim leaders present at the protest called for “boycott” of all those parties like TDP, JD-U and others which are supporting this Bill. AIMPLB leaders alleged that the Bill has been brought to “usurp Waqf properties and this was a direct attack on Muslims…Waqf law grants Muslims the same rights that other religions enjoy for their institution. But now, Muslims are being singled out.” Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, most of the leaders opposing this move have not read the bill in full and are trying to mislead Muslims. One thing is clear. All parties and outfits have their self-interests in mind. None of the leaders are bothered about the provisions of this bill. Most of them have not even read the bill, because the bill in its amended form is yet to be made public. The facts are: there are more than 9 lakh Waqf properties throughout India. After Railway and Defence, Waqf Board comes third in the list having the largest number of properties in India. The worth of Waqf properties runs into Rs 1.5 lakh crores, but only Rs 1.25 crore is earned by Waqf Boards from these properties. Actually, the Boards should have earned at least Rs 12.5 thousand crores annually. Muslims must ponder, who are the people pocketing the massive sum of Rs 12.5 thousand crores? Who are the ultimate losers? If Waqf Boards earn money, it can be used for the social and economic progress of Muslims. Then why this hullaballoo? The ground reality is, the regulation of these Waqf properties lies with the Waqf Boards, on which a handful of people have full arbitrary control. If the amendment bill is passed, these people will have to close their shops. This is the sole reason behind the uproar. As far as political parties are concerned, Muslims constitute a major chunk of their vote banks. That is why they are supporting AIMPLB. But the government at the Centre enjoys majority in both Houses, and most of the Muslim organisations, Islamic scholars and Maulanas are supporting this bill. The Centre is surely going to get this bill passed in Parliament.

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