Waqf War Rocks Parliament: Centre Tables Bill, Opposition Calls It 'Unconstitutional'

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced a bill on Thursday to amend the law governing Waqf boards.

The proposed legislation, which will be renamed the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, aims to give the government more control over the regulation of Waqf properties.

It proposes key changes such as streamlining the registration of Waqf properties through a central portal, and the formation of a Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards with representation from Muslim women and non-Muslims.

The bill also suggests making the District Collector the arbiter on whether a property is Waqf property or government land.

The bill drew strong protests from Opposition MPs, who labeled it as "unconstitutional" and "draconian." Congress leader KC Venugopal called the bill a "fundamental attack on the Constitution" and alleged that it would create religious divisions and incite hate between communities.

He claimed, "Your fundamental idea is to create conflict and create anger between the communities and make violence everywhere." Venugopal also linked the bill to the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana, suggesting that the legislation was aimed at creating divisions for electoral gain.

DMK MP Kanimozhi echoed the criticism, arguing that the bill violated Article 30 of the Constitution, which grants minorities the right to administer their institutions.

She asserted, "This bill targets a particular religious group."

Venugopal further accused the Centre of engaging in divisive politics, warning, "Next you will go for Christians, then Jains. People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now."

He emphasised, "This is an attack on the federal system," and criticised the bill as a ploy for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.