PrintFriendly
DISCUSSION ON THE WAQF (AMENDMENT) BILL 2025 IN THE RAJYA SABHA
BJP National President and Union Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda participated during the discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Rajya Sabha on 03 April 2025. He said the Bill’s primary objective is to ensure transparency and accountability in managing Waqf properties, which rank as India’s third-largest landholding category (after Railways and Defence). Excerpts:
Shri JP Nadda began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to address the House and voiced strong support for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. He emphasised that the Bill aims to reform and streamline the management of Waqf properties across India.
He rejected claims that the Government is “bulldozing” the Bill, countering that the legislative process has been inclusive and transparent.
Democratic Process and Stakeholder Engagement
1. Shri JP Nadda discussed the extensive democratic processes followed during the Bill’s formulation. He contrasted the approach led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Government with the UPA era, noting that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for this Bill included 31 members (compared to 13 under the UPA in 2013) and held 36 meetings spanning over 200 hours. He further stated that stakeholder consultations were exhaustive, involving 284 stakeholders, including Waqf Boards from 25 states, 15 State Governments, minority commissions, MPs, MLAs, and ministers.
2. He said the UPA Government, by comparison, consulted only 18 stakeholders and engaged with 13 states during the 2013 Bill’s drafting. He underscored that the efforts of the Government led by Shri Narendra Modi reject deeper engagement and adherence to democratic norms.
Criticism of Opposition Tactics
1. Shri JP Nadda accused opposition members of derailing debates by introducing irrelevant topics to the discussion such as the Ram Mandir, Kumbh Mela, Bihar elections, and Kerala cinema, which have no connection to the Bill.
2. He also pointed out opposition’s tactics like switching to regional languages to make contentious remarks outside the Bill’s scope.
National Interest and Accountability
1. He emphasised that the Bill’s primary objective is to ensure transparency and accountability in managing Waqf properties, which rank as India’s third-largest landholding category (after Railways and Defence). He stated that unchecked powers granted to Waqf Boards under the 2013 Act led to misuse, including arbitrary land acquisitions and violations of constitutional rights. The Amendment seeks to introduce checks and balances, ensuring Waqf Boards are answerable to the public, particularly Muslim communities.
2. He cited schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and Awas Yojana as examples of the Government’s commitment to inclusive development, emphasizing that benefits reach all communities without discrimination.
International Precedents for Waqf Reforms
1. Shri JP Nadda highlighted reforms in Muslim-majority nations to justify the Bill’s necessity. For instance:
• Turkey established state-controlled Waqf management in 1924 and digitised records in the1990s to enhance transparency.
• Malaysia uses geo-mapping and modern nancial models to manage Waqf assets, ensuring community participation.
• Saudi Arabia and Indonesia reformed Waqf laws in 2016 and 2004 respectively to boost economic benefits and social welfare.
2. Citing these examples, he questioned why similar reforms in India are criticised.
Constitutional and Legal Concerns
1. Shri JP Nadda highlighted constitutional violations in the 2013 Waqf Act, including:
• Article 14 (Right to Equality): The Act allowed Waqf Boards to unilaterally declare properties as waqf without due process.
• Article 21 (Right to Life): It denied citizens the right to challenge Waqf Board decisions in civil courts, centralizing power in Waqf Tribunals.
• Article 300A (Property Rights): It enabled arbitrary seizure of properties under Section 40 of the 2013 Act.
2. He noted that the amendment addresses these issues by empowering Collectors to verify Waqf claims, protecting tribal lands (under Schedules 5 and 6), and ensuring Government/Autonomous Body properties (e.g., ASI monuments) cannot be classified as Waqf.
Documented Misuse of Waqf Properties
1. Shri JP Nadda cited alarming instances of mismanagement such as 5,970 Government properties across 25 states/UTs that were illegally declared Waqf properties. In Karnataka, 40 Government assets (including lakes, temples, and agricultural lands) were converted into Waqf properties between 1975 and 2020.
2. Waqf income stagnated at Rs. 116 crore in 2016 (up from Rs. 1,163 crore in 2013) which reacts poor oversight.
3. He also noted that the CAG’s 2018 report aged systemic awes, including unauthorized land grabs and lack of accountability.
Call for Cooperation and Reaction
1. Shri JP Nadda urged opposition parties, particularly the Congress, to support the Bill in the interest of marginalized Muslim communities. He criticised past Governments for enabling “land mafia” to exploit Waqf properties and stressed the Amendment protects vulnerable groups, including women, by addressing inheritance issues.
2. He concluded with a plea for humility and collaboration, citing the electorate’s rejection of divisive politics in recent elections. He reinforced Modi Government’s commitment to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, urging lawmakers to prioritize national progress over partisan agendas.