BJP aims to dispossess Muslims of their ancestral lands, says Saharanpur MP Imran Masood
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Prominent Muslim leaders have voiced strong opposition to the proposed Waqf Bill, expressing concerns over its impact on the administration, autonomy, and protection of Waqf properties.
Speakers at a conference in the Rajasthan city of Jaipur on Sunday highlighted the unified stance of the Muslim community against specific provisions of the bill. They argued the amendment would erode the independence and intended religious purpose of Waqf properties.
The conference, held under the banner of Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf (Protection of Waqf Properties), was attended by key Muslim leaders, legal experts, and Waqf board members.
Waqf, a concept in Islamic law, refers to endowments made by individuals for religious or charitable purposes. Managed by a Waqf board, these properties are often dedicated to educational, religious, or social welfare services within the Muslim community. Such properties are typically viewed as religious trusts, intended to remain under the control of the community for spiritual and philanthropic purposes.
However, amendments proposed in the Waqf Bill suggest increased government involvement, raising concerns among Muslim leaders about the potential dilution of Waqf property sanctity and autonomy.
At the Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf conference, Saharanpur MP and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) member Imran Masood accused the BJP of pushing a narrative aimed at dispossessing Muslims of their ancestral lands, media reports reaching here said on Monday.
Masood dismissed accusations that Muslims are encroaching on public land, calling such claims “misleading” and designed to justify the amendment.
The lawmaker stated that only Muslim-owned properties, including mosques, shrines and Idgahs, are facing intensified government scrutiny, describing this as part of a “plan to render Muslims landless,” reports said.
Rafeek Khan, MLA from Adarsh Nagar. emphasised that the JPC should engage with actual stakeholders to understand their views on the Bill.
“Instead, they are giving time to individuals and groups who are neither stakeholders nor have any understanding of Waqf,” he claimed.
The MLA condemned the Bill’s provision allowing non-Muslim MPs and MLAs to serve on Waqf boards, warning that it could lead to the inclusion of figures who are infamous for airing their anti-Muslim statements.
“Imagine leaders like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, MP Giriraj Singh or Jaipur MLA Balmukundacharya on a Waqf board,” he exclaimed.
The participants reiterated their commitment to uphold the sanctity and independence of Waqf properties, calling for an approach that respects both the legal and religious facets of Waqf institutions.
