AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi continued that Parliament doesn’t have authority to introduce the proposed changes.
The bill seeking to change the 1995 law governing Islamic charitable boards to centralize the control was on Thursday moved to a joint Indian legislature committee for review after the Indian National Democratic Congress-themed Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance objected to the bill in its current form.
Several political parties, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), have also opposed the bill regarding changes in the laws, including the provision of non-Muslims in the Waqf board, saying that they will further violate religious freedom.
The government, on the same note, has defended that the draft legislation aims at enhancing the management of the Waqf properties through which Muslims set aside properties for religious or benevolent intentions in the discretion of their piety to continue carrying out charity after their death.
Such a consequence was criticized by SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, who stated that the bill was a part of well-planned politics. “If other religious boards do not have non-believers, why should non-Muslims be included in waqf boards? The fact is, the BJP has introduced this bill for its few hard-line workers who are restless.”
Congress leader K. C. Venugopal criticized the bill, stating it was a direct assault on the Constitution of the country. “Waqf properties originate from donations,” he noted, adding that the [bill] is against Article 26 of the Constitution that gives the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. According to this bill, they [the government] are introducing a clause that non-Muslims can also be members of the governing council,” said Venugopal.
