NEW DELHI: India’s lower house of parliament has passed a contentious bill proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government to amend laws governing Muslim endowments, worth over $14 billion.
The Waqf Bill seeks to include non-Muslims on boards that manage these endowments and grants the government greater authority in validating the land holdings associated with them. Waqf refers to personal property. Whether movable or immovable, permanently donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) argues that the proposed amendments to the 1995 Waqf Act will combat corruption, improve management, and promote diversity in the administration of waqf properties.
However, the bill has raised serious concerns among Muslims, who fear that it could lead to the confiscation, disputes, or demolition of waqf properties, including historic mosques, shops, shrines, graveyards, and extensive land holdings.
The bill has sparked heated debate in parliament, with the Congress-led opposition condemning it as unconstitutional and discriminatory against Muslims, further intensifying the political divide over the issue