Waqf Board Amendment Bill: BJP constitutes team to seek minority community’s suggestions

New Delhi [India], September 1 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Front has constituted a seven-member team to engage with the Muslim community regarding the Waqf Board Amendment Act 2024 and to gather their suggestions.

The team is expected to submit its report to the BJP National President and the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

The seven-member team includes Shadab Shams, Chairman of Waqf Board Uttarakhand; Sanawar Patel, Chairman of Waqf Board Madhya Pradesh; Chaudhary Zakir Hussain, Administrator of Waqf Board Haryana; Mohsin Lokhandwala, Chairman of Waqf Board Gujarat; Maulana Habib Haider, National Executive Member of BJP Minority Front; Nasir Hussain, National Executive Member of BJP Minority Front; and Rajbali, former Chairman of Waqf Board Himachal Pradesh.

This team was formed on Saturday, August 31.

According to top BJP sources, the party’s high command has instructed the Minority Front to appoint members to interact with the Muslim community regarding the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. The appointed members will engage in discussions with Muslim scholars to understand their concerns and gather suggestions regarding the bill. Additionally, they will explain the necessity of the amendment and how it will benefit the minority community.

The committee will visit various states, interacting with Muslim scholars to understand their concerns and gather suggestions. They will also address any misconceptions and doubts that may exist within the minority community.

Regarding opposition objections to the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, Jamal Siddiqui, National President of the BJP Minority Front, earlier told ANI that many Muslim religious leaders have been consulted about the amendment, and they have expressed no issues with it.

He added that the BJP is working to free Waqf properties from illegal occupation and to ensure that the rights of poor Muslims are protected. Siddiqui emphasized that opposition parties are only engaging in politics by opposing the BJP.

Meanwhile, the JPC has invited views and suggestions from the public, NGOs, experts, stakeholders, and institutions, as per a press release by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The release stated that those desirous of submitting written suggestions to the Committee can send two copies either in English or in Hindi to Joint Secretary of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Room No. 440, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi and also email to [email protected].

The suggestions should reach within 15 days from the date of the publication of the advertisement.

The Joint Committee’s meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was held in New Delhi on August 30 to seek views and suggestions from various stakeholders. The Committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Lok Sabha MP Jagdambika Pal, had invited views and suggestions from stakeholders, including the public, NGOs, experts, and institutions.

The first meeting of the Committee was held on August 22. The 31-member committee consists of 21 members from Lok Sabha and 10 members from Rajya Sabha.

On August 31, the chairman of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, posted on X that a delegation of religious leaders and Muslim scholars, led by Hazrat Syed Nasiruddin Chishti, successor of Ajmer Dargah and President of All India Sufi Sajjada Nashin Council, shared their views regarding the Waqf Board at his Delhi residence.

On Saturday, the chairman of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, posted on X, “At my Delhi residence, a delegation of religious leaders and Muslim scholars, led by Hazrat Syed Nasiruddin Chishti, successor of Ajmer Dargah and President of All India Sufi Sajjada Nashin Council, shared their views regarding the Waqf Board.”

The next JPC meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill is scheduled for September 5 and 6.

On September 5, Oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Oral evidence of the representatives of the following ministries on the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; (ii) Ministry of Railways.

On September 6, JPC meeting Oral evidence of the representatives of Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture on the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, onwards -do-To hear the views/suggestion/ oral evidence the following stakeholders on the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024’: Zakat Foundation of India and Telangana Waqf Board will take place.

The 31-member committee was formed last month following the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, which led to protests from the Opposition.