Waqf Amendment Bill 2024
The amendment is set to make 44 changes to the existing Waqf Act, to stop illegal practices happening in the name of waqf boards. The name of the act is set to be changed to Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act (UMEED). However, the cases of illegal activites arising recently have been proved to be false, and various MPs have been opposing the amendment bill. But the rising politics to rush the amendment by highlighting the waqf land issues such as in Karnataka is being used as justification for amendment proposal.
Waqf Politics
In Karnataka, around 1500 acres of land farmers and archaeological sites, have complained to be receiving Waqf notices of transfer of land to the Waqf board. Amid this issue, BJP leaders have accused the ruling congress party of Karnataka of committing these illegal land transfers to the Waqf Board. BJP leaders like Tejasvi Surya and others have requested Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Amendment, to refer to the issue. Upon their request, members of JPC, have visited and spoken with the farmers facing the issue of the Waqf transfer notice.
With these rising political accusations and tensions, Karnatake CM Siddaramaiah, was forced to take immediate action. And the state had issued notice stating strict action action against any continual of transfer notice and process of lands to Waqf boards in the state.
However, congress MPs, have hit back the accusations by stating that, even during the BJP’s rule in the state, the Waqf notices were sent in such a scale and such illegal transfers of properties were alleged to happen then too.
Progress of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
These rising political accusations and tensions are a way to justify the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The JPC is continuing its visits to various state boards to discuss the bill at the local level for betterment. Till now stakeholders of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore have been consulted by JPC. Members of it have currently arrived in Bhubaneshwar in Odisha for its stakeholder consultation at the state level.
The JPC is a 30-member committee, with 20 members of the Lok Sabha and 10 members of the Rajya Sabha in it. It is set for a national tour to consult the key Waqf board regions of India over a period of one year. After Odisha’s visit, they will continue to consult, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow stakeholders.
While there is a need for action against the illegal activities happening in the name of Waqf Property transfer, it is too strong of an action to amend the act while rushing through it through politics and parliamentary committees.
