Waqf Amendment Bill to address mismanagement, irregularities, and encroachments: Sat Sharma
JAMMU, April 04: The Waqf Amendment Bill will benefit the poor people from the community by the judicious use of Digitalized Waqf properties and their funds for the welfare of the community be it for education, healthcare, or religious purpose. On one hand, this law will prevent encroachments on Waqf land, this will also prevent its unlawful claims on other properties.
This was stated by Sat Sharma, President, J&K BJP, accompanied by Sunil Sharma, General Secretary, J&K BJP, & Leader of Opposition, Dr. Tahir Choudhary, Spokesperson, J&K BJP, and Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Media Incharge, J&K BJP while addressing a press conference at party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
“New Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to ensure that Waqf properties are protected and used as intended. This will address mismanagement, irregularities, and encroachments”, said Sat Sharma.
Sat Sharma, while addressing the media persons, said that the Waqf Amendment Bill has been passed in both the houses after a marathon discussion. He said that the majority of the Parliamentarians believed that this Bill is in the favour of the general masses and will help the poor members from Muslim Community by the judicious use of Waqf properties.
“The multiple amendments in the Waqf Bill especially in 1995 and 2013, formed the very basis of this necessary amendment, as it gave rise to the inconsistencies in the functioning of the Board”, said Sharma.
Citing examples, Sat Sharma said that Just before the 2014 general elections, Congress government transferred prime properties in VVIP Lutyens Zone to the Waqf Board. Congress government trespassed the rights of people to use those properties via the government for the welfare of the general masses to benefit a few via the Waqf. Property under Northern railways was given to Waqf under the vote bank and appeasement politics of the Congress which was aimed to divide the nation.
In Karnataka, hundreds of acres of land were given on much less rent to benefit some. Similarly prime land was allotted on a rent of a few thousand rupees to build a five-star hotel. He said that while the Waqf lands should have been used for the welfare of the poor, it worked for some influential people. On many occasions, Mutawallis (caretakers) failed to perform their duties, didn’t maintain any stocks, didn’t digitize, didn’t maintain records and never took substantial steps to remove the encroachments on Waqf lands.
After 2013, this law also enjoyed super-powers under which it could claim any land and the aggrieved could not approach the appropriate Court of Law against the Waqf Tribunal, Sharma said and added that the Bill proposes that no person can create a Waqf unless they are lawful owner of property.
This amendment bill has been brought to overcome such major aberrations to facilitate the effective functioning of Waqf Board, maintain the proper digitalized records of Waqf properties and protect the rights and the lands of aggrieved people.
Sharma, also congratulated the people, especially the poor population from Muslim community, who will be benefited the most with this amendment bill as from now on the judicious use of Waqf properties, and their income will be utilized for the Muslim welfare measures by opening educational institutions, hospitals, orphanages etc.
He charged the opposition parties of politicizing the issue and asked them to recount upon the benefits of this amendment for the poor people from the Muslim community and those who were victimized.
