AAP Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh criticises the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it divisive and questioning government motives.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Waqf Amendment Bill, currently under review, has drawn criticism from many quarters including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) member Sanjay Singh, who claims it will deepen societal divisions. In a strongly-worded statement, Singh accused the government of using the bill to create discord and impose new restrictions on the Muslim community.
“This bill is being brought to create new conflict, division, and tension across the country, which we strongly oppose,” he stated.
Singh and several other JPC members walked out of a recent meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill, voicing their disapproval over what they see as intrusive provisions. The AAP MP raised concerns over specific requirements in the bill, including a clause that would restrict the right to endow property to Muslims. “In no other religion does such a condition exist,” he said. “Anyone has the right to make an endowment at any time, yet discrimination is being done in the case of Muslims.”
Highlighting the fears of increased surveillance and scrutiny of religious practices, Singh questioned whether “Modi ji now wants to monitor the homes of Muslims by installing CCTV cameras to see who is praying and who isn’t.”
Singh also criticisedthe new requirements for individuals making an endowment to provide detailed property records dating back decades, noting that “a 30-year-old record is difficult to find today, let alone one that’s 200 years old.” He warned that this provision could lead to unfair repercussions, like, “if you don’t provide a 200-year-old record, they’ll arrive with a bulldozer.”
Under current legislation, a Waqf property survey is conducted every ten years. Singh argued this should be sufficient and expressed frustration that the central government now demands further documentation despite a Supreme Court report confirming that nearly 99% of Waqf properties have already been digitised.
“Why are you asking for paperwork now when you’ve acknowledged these records in the Supreme Court?” Singh questioned, accusing the government of inconsistencies.
Responding to BJP members’ claim that if Waqf properties were managed effectively, their income would be around ₹11,000 crore, Singh said, “If you think Waqf management is inadequate, go after those responsible for larger losses. Bring back ₹20,000 crore from Nirav Modi, allocate ₹12,000 crore to the Waqf Board, and keep the rest.” On hearing this, BJP members were visibly upset.
Addressing concerns over the removal of the Waqf Tribunal and the transfer of certain powers to district collectors, Singh reiterated his opposition, calling it a move that undermines the Waqf Board’s autonomy.
Singh also highlihjted an internal issue within the Delhi Waqf Board, alleging that Administrator Ashwini Kumar concealed a report opposing the bill by CEO Rehan Raza, presenting a separate report without government consent. “We object to this report; it misled the JPC and bypassed the Delhi government,” Singh said.
The final decision on the bill, Singh said, now rests with key leaders from various parties, including Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, and Chirag Paswan.