Centre calls meeting of all parties to discuss Waqf Bill today

The Central government has called a meeting of all members of Parliament today, Wednesday to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in detail. The meeting, scheduled from 9.30-10.30 am in a Parliament complex conference room, will provide the MPs with an hour-long briefing on the proposed amendments to waqf laws.

The government is presumably keen on explaining the contents of the Bill before presenting it to Parliament, amidst growing opposition. The Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked controversy across the nation, with many groups accusing the Centre of acting against the interests of the Muslim community.

Various Muslim organisations, including the prominent Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, have raised objections, calling the Bill anti-Muslim. They argue that the amendments could lead to the mismanagement of waqf properties and undermine the autonomy of the Muslim community in managing its charitable endowments by insisting that non-Muslims be made part of waqf boards.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has been vocal in its opposition, declaring that it will organise large-scale protests in different parts of the country. Today, 26 March, a demonstration will be held in Patna's Gardanibagh, followed by another protest in Vijayawada on 29 March.

AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas has condemned the Bill, stating that it was introduced on communal grounds and violated the rights of Muslims. He also claimed that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) which reviewed the Bill acted unilaterally, disregarding the concerns of Opposition parties and Muslim organisations.

The JPC — chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal — presented its report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after several meetings and hearings, though several Opposition members, particularly AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, maintained that their dissent to the Bill had not been recorded in full, and said they weren't sure if the dissent note would be presented along with the Bill.

The 31-member committee proposed several amendments to the legislation, which were noted by the majority of 15 BJP MPs against 11 Opposition members. However, the Opposition has continued to express strong dissent, with concerns over the Bill's implications for Muslim religious and charitable institutions. As the discussion continues, the government faces increasing pressure from various sources, accompanied by nationwide protests.

With IANS inputs