Waqf Bill: Muslim bodies, Opposition protest at Jantar Mantar

Several Muslim religious organizations and opposition leaders staged a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, 17 March, against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing the BJP-led government of attempting to seize control over waqf properties.

The protest, spearheaded by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) — formed in 1973 with the objective of protecting and promoting the application of Islamic personal law among Muslims in India — was supported by several opposition leaders, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Manickam Tagore.

"We want this bill to be withdrawn. The JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal is misleading people," said All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas.

Addressing the gathering, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid emphasized that waqf properties are deeply linked to Muslim cultural and religious identity.

"If democracy is alive, people will understand and try to grasp the essence of democracy," he said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore reaffirmed the party's opposition to the bill, stating, "We are working with INDIA alliance partners to deal with this in Parliament."

Owaisi slammed the bill, warning that it could be misused to strip mosques of their status. "If tomorrow, anyone says a mosque is not a mosque and the collector launches an inquiry, then the masjid will not be our property until the inquiry is over," he said.

Indian Union Muslim League MP E.T. Muhammad Basheer accused the government of attempting to "loot" waqf properties and sidelining the Opposition’s concerns. "The JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill did not even consider our views. We oppose it," he asserted.

It is important to mention here that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), tasked with reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, made several recommendations that have become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate. Among the most contentious proposals:

• New inquiry powers: The bill proposes that in case of any dispute over a waqf property, the district collector or any designated authority can initiate an inquiry, raising concerns that this could be used to challenge the status of mosques and other religious sites.

• State oversight: The amendments aim to strengthen state government control over waqf boards, which critics argue could lead to undue political interference in the management of waqf properties.

• Restrictions on property transfers: The bill introduces stricter regulations on leasing and selling waqf land, with the stated objective of preventing encroachments and unauthorised transactions. However, opponents fear this provision could be selectively enforced to dispossess the community of its assets.

• Exclusion of opposition views: Opposition leaders and Muslim organisations claim that their concerns were ignored in the JPC deliberations, with minimal consultation or consideration given to their objections. 

Predictably, the ruling BJP and the JPC dismissed the protest as politically motivated. JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal defended the bill, stating, "The act has not even been introduced yet. We have only submitted our 428-page report. They should speak after the bill is passed."

Pal also rejected claims that the bill would empower district magistrates to take control of waqf properties, clarifying that higher officials such as state secretaries or commissioners would oversee disputes.

"Nobody is taking away waqf land. This amendment will actually prevent illegal sales and benefit the poor," he argued.

Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad took a jibe at Pal saying, "He was a Congressman earlier, now he has joined the party to harm the BJP. Jagdambika Pal is an old Congressman."

While the protest saw significant participation, some Muslim leaders questioned AIMPLB’s stance.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, accused the AIMPLB of straying from its original purpose. "The Board was formed to address issues related to Sharia and social evils, not for political agitation," he remarked.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was brought to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 8 August 2024. The bill was subsequently referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for detailed examination.

The JPC presented its report to Parliament on 13 February 2025 amid opposition protests over alleged omissions of dissenting notes. The bill is currently awaiting further discussion and approval in both houses of Parliament.