“Govt will not acquire Waqf property”: JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 27 (ANI): Days after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) called for the immediate withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said that Waqf properties will remain under Waqf control and the government will not acquire any Waqf property.

Jagdambika Pal, who headed the Joint Parliamentary Committee, said that the committee is considering all suggestions and concerns regarding the bill. A comprehensive report will be prepared and presented by the next parliamentary session, he added.

“The government has brought a bill for a better administration of Waqf property… There have been amendments and a Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed.

We are calling everyone and listening to their concerns related to the bill. We will prepare a report and submit it in the first week of the next session,” Pal said.

In response to mounting opposition concerns about the government’s seizure of Waqf properties, Pal stated, “I want to reiterate that Waqf properties will remain under Waqf control. The government will not acquire any Waqf property.”

Meanwhile, Pal also met Former Union Minister of Minority Affairs and former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K Rehman and discussed issues related to the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.

Earlier on August 25, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns over the bill and said, “In chapter 11 of Structure Committee, there’s a mention of Waqf properties, in which 6 states have been mentioned where the government has taken over the Waqf properties. In Delhi, the government has taken over 200 properties of Waqf. The Modi government is trying to eliminate ‘Waqf by user’…The government is saying to register all the properties through deeds covered under Waqf… If we do not bring the deeds, then registration will not be done. Therefore, the government will take over those properties. Waqf properties are private properties and not public properties. These were not given to us by the government but our Muslim brothers gave this for charity. How can you treat it like a public property?…”

On the issue of electing non-Muslim members to the Waqf board, Owaisi said, “The Modi government wants to appoint non-Muslim members. Now listen carefully, in UP, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act of 1983 states that only Hindu members are eligible to be part of the board. It also says, if a Hindu member is not eligible, then another Hindu will take their place.”

The Joint Parliamentary Committee, comprising 31 members–21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha–has been tasked with thoroughly examining the bill.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced during the budget session of Parliament. The government has stated that the amendments are necessary to streamline the functioning of Waqf properties and ensure better governance. Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns about potential overreach and the implications for the autonomy of Waqf institutions.