The JPC’s delay in submitting its report appears to be part of a broader strategy to keep the Waqf issue alive in public discourse
Abdul Bari Masoud | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is steering the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill into the heart of its political strategy, a move that some believe is aimed at countering the rising demand for a caste census. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining the bill has already missed its initial deadline during the winter session of Parliament and is unlikely to meet the extended timeline of the upcoming Budget session, which begins on January 30.
According to those aware of the developments, the BJP-led government may now push the report until the monsoon session because the committee won’t be able to finish its job by the extended deadline. A committee member told Clarion India that the panel could not meet the deadline because it would take a long time to document the concerns of thousands of stakeholders.
This delay has fuelled speculation that the BJP is intentionally prolonging the Waqf issue, using it as a tool to stir emotive sentiments, much like its approach to Article 370 and the Ram temple in the past.
The JPC, led by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, has faced severe criticism from opposition members, who accuse the chairman of partisan conduct and procedural violations. They argue that the proceedings have lacked transparency, with the committee’s functioning marked by undue haste and selective engagement with stakeholders. An opposition member of the JPC told Clarion India that the chairman is pressured to pay attention to stakeholders with valid concerns. The committee has not followed the proper process till today.
A recent example is the invitation extended to Anwar Manipaddy, a former Karnataka Minorities Commission chief and former Karnataka BJP vice president, to present allegations against Congress president Malikarjun Kharge and the Karnataka Waqf Board. Opposition MPs claim that Manipaddy’s testimony was biased and his remarks defamatory, violating parliamentary norms that restrict discussions on sub-judice matters. Despite their protests, the chairman permitted Manipaddy to continue, prompting opposition members to send a strongly worded letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The letter criticised the committee’s proceedings as undemocratic and warned of a potential boycott by opposition members.
Adding to the government’s challenges is the resistance from key NDA allies like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United). Both parties, which have significant minority support in their respective states, have opposed provisions in the bill, such as the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards. JD(U), in particular, is treading cautiously ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, wary of alienating its core voter base. Sources indicate that the BJP has not offered any assurances to these allies about amending the bill, leaving them dissatisfied and increasing the likelihood of further delays.
The BJP’s focus on the Waqf issue comes at a time when the demand for a caste census has gained significant traction, particularly after Bihar’s recent release of its caste survey data. A caste census threatens to disrupt the BJP’s carefully constructed social engineering efforts, which rely on unifying Hindus across caste lines.
By shifting attention to the Waqf issue, the BJP appears to be employing a familiar strategy of leveraging emotive issues to consolidate its voter base. Observers are drawing parallels between this tactic and the party’s approach during the 1990s, when it used the Ram Mandir movement to counter the implementation of the Mandal Commission report. With the Ram Mandir issue now over and done with, the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, seem to be searching for a new rallying issue. The Waqf controversy, with its potential to polarise and energise voters, fits the bill. Waqf properties are spread all over the country and with a sizeable number of them under adverse possession can be used for stoking communal tension.
In a written reply to the Parliament during the winter session, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that a total of 994 Waqf properties have been reported as alienated — or illegally encroached upon. Alienated properties refer to Waqf land or assets that have been transferred or encroached upon through unlawful means.
Statements from senior BJP leaders have reinforced the perception that the party is using the Waqf issue as a political tool. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently described Waqf boards as “land mafias” and accused them of mismanaging resources.
Speaking at the ‘Maha Kumbh Mahasammelan’, organised by a private news channel in Lucknow, Yogi said, “It is hard to tell whether it is a Waqf Board or a board of land mafias.” He said his government has amended the Waqf Act and is actively investigating all “occupied” land.
Although Yogi is known for making provocative and communally tinged remarks, this was not the occasion to raise the Waqf issue. His statement suggests that the party wants to use this issue for political purposes in the coming days. At an event in Lucknow, the chief minister claimed that his government had amended the Waqf Act to investigate all “occupied” land, a statement widely interpreted as an attempt to provoke communal sentiments.
Meanwhile, RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who heads the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, alleged that Waqf Boards have failed to serve the Muslim community despite their extensive resources. Minister Rijiju, who introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in August 2024, admitted that the Waqf issue is inherently political, further underscoring the party’s intentions.
Broader Strategy
The JPC’s delay in submitting its report appears to be part of a broader strategy to keep the Waqf issue alive in public discourse. This delay allows the BJP to use the controversy as a counterweight to the caste census demand, which poses significant challenges to its electoral strategy. By framing the Waqf debate as a corrective measure against alleged corruption and inefficiency, the BJP hopes to divert attention from the implications of a caste census while appealing to its core voter base.
However, this approach is not without risks. The BJP’s reliance on emotive issues to galvanise support has its limits, particularly in a society as diverse and caste-conscious as India’s. Moreover, the resistance from NDA allies and opposition parties highlights the fragility of the BJP’s coalition and the challenges of governing in a deeply polarised environment. The Waqf issue, like the Ram Mandir, may serve as a useful tool for mobilisation, but its long-term efficacy in addressing the BJP’s political challenges remains uncertain. Of the proposed 40 amendments in the bill, particularly, bringing in non-Muslims on the waqf boards may be used as a communal card.
As the Budget session approaches, the BJP’s handling of the Waqf Amendment Bill will be closely watched. Whether it succeeds in using the issue to counter the caste census demand or risks alienating key allies and voters will have significant implications for its political trajectory.
Minister Rijiju also admitted that the Waqf issue was a political one. When Clarion India confronted him about it at a recent Haj conference in Delhi, he said it needed to be discussed separately. The Waqf debate, at its core, reflects the BJP’s broader strategy of navigating complex social dynamics through a mix of polarising rhetoric and calculated delays.
