AIMIM chief criticises the government’s move, calling it a threat to Muslim religious property and social harmony
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — In a fierce critique of the Waqf Amendment Bill, All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Member of Parliament (MP) Asaduddin Owaisi has warned that its current form will lead to social instability and jeopardise the religious rights of Muslims across the country.
“This is my property, no one gave it, you cannot take it away. For me, Waqf is an act of worship,” Owaisi declared, calling the issue a matter of faith and self-preservation for Muslims in India.
Speaking during the debate on the President’s Address in the Budget Session of Parliament on Monday, Owaisi categorically stated that the Bill has been rejected by the entire Muslim community.
“I am warning this government, if you bring and make the Waqf law in its current form, it will be a violation of Articles 25, 26 and 14, it will create social instability in this country,” said Owaisi, emphasising the gravity of the situation. He expressed concern that, if implemented, the Bill would lead to the dispossession of Waqf properties, which hold significant religious and cultural value for the Muslim community.
The AIMIM leader further asserted, “You want to make India a ‘Viksit Bharat’, we want a ‘Viksit Bharat’. You want to take this country back to the 80s and early 90s, it will be your responsibility.” He passionately continued, “As a proud Indian Muslim, I do not want to lose even an inch of my mosque, I will not lose even an inch of my dargah, I will not allow it.”
Owaisi’s remarks reflect the deep concern within the Muslim community over the potential consequences of the proposed Bill, which they argue would not only undermine their religious practices but also pave the way for greater government interference in their spiritual affairs.
Earlier in the day, opposition MPs Kalyan Banerjee (Lok Sabha) and Mohammad Nadeem-ul-Haq (Rajya Sabha) voiced their strong objections to the removal of key sections from their dissent notes, which they had submitted to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf Amendment Bill. The MPs accused the government of deleting their objections arbitrarily, without any explanation or prior notice.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the MPs alleged that their concerns regarding the Bill’s constitutionality were ignored, which further fuelled opposition to the legislation. “This Bill will destroy the Waqf Board and allow the government to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims,” said Banerjee, highlighting the constitutional and legal challenges posed by the Bill.
On Wednesday, the Joint Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill approved the report and the amended version of the Bill, which was passed by a majority vote of 15-11. However, opposition MPs and Muslim community leaders strongly condemned the Bill, asserting that its passage would lead to unnecessary government control over Waqf properties and institutions.
In light of these concerns, Owaisi’s outspoken opposition serves as a clear warning that the government’s actions could provoke significant unrest and divisiveness among the country’s Muslim population. As the debate on the Bill continues, the fate of Waqf properties and the role of government in religious affairs remain highly contentious issues.