Muslim leaders unite against Waqf Amendment Bill at Jaipur conference

Jaipur: Muslim leaders and organizations have strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, raising concerns that it threatens Muslim-held properties across India. The opposition emerged during the Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf conference in Jaipur on Sunday, where prominent figures voiced their fears about the bill’s potential impact on Muslim land ownership.

Saharanpur MP and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) member Imran Masood accused the BJP of promoting a narrative to dispossess Muslims of their ancestral lands. He dismissed claims that Muslims are encroaching on public land, calling them “misleading” and part of a broader strategy to justify the amendment.

Masood emphasized that only Muslim-owned properties, such as mosques, shrines, and Idgahs, were facing increased government scrutiny, framing this as part of a larger plan to render Muslims landless.

Meanwhile, Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafeek Khan criticized the JPC, stating that the committee should consult actual stakeholders about the Bill rather than giving time to individuals and groups with no understanding of Waqf. Khan expressed disappointment with JPC president Jagdambika Pal for allowing presentations from those focusing on unrelated issues or praising Prime Minister Modi.

Khan also condemned the provision of the Bill allowing non-Muslim MPs and MLAs to serve on Waqf boards. He warned that such an arrangement could result in the inclusion of individuals with anti-Muslim views, citing figures like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, MP Giriraj Singh, and Jaipur MLA Balmukundacharya.

Khan further questioned whether similar provisions would be accepted in other religious communities, pointing out that no Hindu temple trust would allow a Muslim member on its board, especially one with the authority to make key decisions.

With PTI inputs